NetflixIt’s time to enter a new round of games, as Alice in Borderland Season 3 is nearly here. So you don’t miss a thing, here’s the exact time the series returns to Netflix and what to expect.
The last three years have felt long. Alice in Borderland Season 2 ended on an almighty cliffhanger: Usagi and Arisu made it back to the real world and were ready for their happily ever after, until the camera closed in on a Joker card.
They may have cleared the face cards (just), but no one even thought about the players who decided to stay in the Borderlands, and they’ve got an ace up their sleeve (well, a Joker).
In Season 3 of the hit Netflix series, Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi’s (Tao Tsuchiya) memories of the games have been erased and they’re happily married, but it doesn’t take long before they’re drawn back into the horrifying world.
Alice in Borderland Season 3 release date & time
After a three year gap, Alice in Borderland Season 3 is just around the corner. It lands on Netflix at 12am PT/3am ET on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
Thankfully, Season 3 drops at once, so you won’t have to wait a whole week for new episodes to arrive. We’ve listed other timezones for you below so you know exactly when to tune in:
- 4am Brazil
- 8am UK
- 9am Central European Summer Time
- 12:30pm India Standard Time
- 5pm Australia
- 7pm New Zealand
The high production value of the show means that there was a two-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2, but why did Season 3 take longer? Well, firstly, the Netflix series is based on Haro Aso’s manga of the same name, but Season 2 ends where the manga does.
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Director Shinsuke Sato and his writing team have had to go off-script for Season 3, meaning the writing would have taken longer. Plus, the streaming service only renewed the third chapter a year after Season 2 finished.
Thankfully, the wait is nearly over.
How many episodes are there?
NetflixAlice in Borderland Season 3 consists of six episodes – two less than previous seasons. But Shinsuke Sato has promised plenty of gripping drama and nail-biting action.
Speaking with Radio Times, he explained, “In Seasons 1 and 2, the audience would have been asking, ‘What is this world? How does it work?’ as they observe the games. In Season 3, we know what the Borderland is so that sense of mystery and enigmatic element is gone.
“You’re going to be riding attractions of the unknown and anyone who enjoyed Season 1 and 2 will enjoy Season 3 and say, ‘Yes, this is what Alice in Borderland is all about!’”
Arisu star Yamazaki added, “There are games in the source material that weren’t in Season 1 or 2 which appear in Season 3 and they’re crazily intense.
“Some of the games are originals from the filmmaker as well. It’s such a psychological game that it’s something that really belongs to this world.”
What happened at the end of Season 2?
NetflixSeason 2 ended with the long-awaited reveal of what the Borderlands really is. After defeating the face card games, Arisu and Usagi woke up in a hospital to learn that a meteorite strike had devastated Tokyo.
The Borderlands isn’t another dimension after all. It’s a shared liminal space experienced by those hovering between life and death – in this case, those who were nearly killed by the disaster.
After defeating the Queen of Hearts, the survivors were given a choice: stay in the Borderlands or go home. While Arisu, Usagi, and co. chose the latter, Banda and Yaba opted to stay put.
When the players who chose home come out of their comas, they return to their lives with no clear memory of what happened. But something draws Arisu and Usagi together, and they strike up a relationship regardless.
Just as they go for a walk outside the hospital, the camera travels over to a table where a deck of cards has been left. The cards are all blown away, except for one: the Joker. This brings us to Alice in Borderland Season 3.
What to expect from Season 3
NetflixThe next chapter jumps forward in time when our leading duo are happily married. However, Usagi is drawn back into the Borderlands and Arisu follows to save her – and the deadly games start all over again.
In a conversation with Netflix, Yamazaki said, “Since Arisu and Usagi are split into separate teams, I found it interesting to see the different atmospheres and character dynamics within each group.
“Over the seasons, the characters have become so beloved by fans, and I think that’s why the audience can really empathize with them during the life-or-death moments.”
He went on to highlight a game from the manga that is teased in the trailer: “When I read the manga, I was blown away by the flaming arrows, so when I saw the script for this scene, I thought, ‘It’s here!’”
Tsuchiya highlighted a new game involving dice, stating, “As the players become more desperate, everyone’s performances become more intense and dramatic.
“I think this game really captures the essence of Alice in Borderland – it’s about life and death, and about discovering how you truly want to live.”
For more on what to watch, check out the best shows of 2025 so far, the most binge-worthy series, and everything that’s coming up with our 2025 TV release calendar.