Netflix’s Alice in Borderland Season 3 Ending Explained

by

Season 3 of the show premieres on September 25, 2025. This season, Arisu, a survivor of the dangerous games, must rescue his wife, Usagi, who has been kidnapped by a puzzling man named Ryuji. While it seems straightforward, Arisu will face a series of challenging new games before he can accomplish his mission.

It’s easy to get caught up in the intense and often heartbreaking events of the season – the deadly games, the loss of innocent lives, and the struggle to survive in a desolate world. Arisu has been through a lot in Borderland, and he’s changed. He’s no longer alone, having experienced loss and found connection with his wife, Usagi. Now, he’s determined to find her and, while he’s at it, uncover the truth behind Borderland itself.

This article was most recently updated on October 23, 2025, by Ajay Aravind. While the ending of Alice in Borderland Season 3 feels conclusive, the show could potentially continue with new stories – Season 3 even included content not found in the original manga. However, there’s been no official word about a renewal, leaving the series’ future uncertain. We’ve updated this article with the latest information about what might happen with Alice in Borderland.

Banda’s Death and the Devastating Whirlpool

After a mysterious man named Banda hints at what happens after death, Arisu is brought back to the deadly Borderland by Ann. All Ryuji needs to do is convince Usagi to return to the games, and Arisu sets out to find her. Banda, much like a Moriarty to Arisu’s Sherlock Holmes, is simply seeking a challenging opponent. Ryuji kidnaps Usagi and shoots her, and the two of them, along with Arisu, cross back into Borderland with their memories confused. Ann, a medical examiner with fragmented recollections of the death games, approaches Arisu, and he realizes he has limited time to help her, though time itself behaves strangely within Borderland.

The previous game rounds were quick, finishing within minutes or hours of the initial event and Arisu’s hospitalization. Now, Arisu continues to play the games while searching for Usagi, and he encounters a new group of people who are unaware of the danger they face. He uses his intelligence and knowledge of strategy to help as many people survive as possible. Meanwhile, the story reveals what Usagi and Ryuji were doing during the same time – desperately trying to survive a brutal game called Lights, which violently eliminates players. Ryuji’s disability, revealed through flashbacks, makes their survival even more impressive.

Ryuji was deeply fascinated by what happens after death. This obsession led him to assist a student in a dangerous experiment reminiscent of a near-death experience, but tragically, she didn’t survive. Devastated by the loss, Ryuji suffered a car accident, which many believe was a suicide attempt. He survived, but was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, intensifying his quest to understand the afterlife. The series hints that Ryuji may have fragmented memories of the deadly Borderland, which explains his connection to other players like Arisu and Usagi. He even recreates a life-or-death game of Old Maid in the real world to obtain a visa and meet Banda, who offers him a path to finding the answers he seeks.

Banda gives Ryuji a special card, and also reaches out to Arisu, encouraging him to return and leaving another card with him – a gesture that unlocks more of Arisu’s forgotten memories of the mysterious Borderland. Just before the last, deadly game, Ryuji learns he must kill Usagi to find the truth, changing the rules of the competition. Despite being armed with only a small gun, he’s determined to follow through. In the end, Sugoroku/Double Sixes results in Arisu sacrificing himself so that Usagi, who is pregnant, and the remaining players can return to Shibuya.

It turns out the game was rigged – Arisu was always meant to win, and the others were doomed from the start. As Shibuya, still scarred from the meteor impact and filled with construction, crumbles, buildings collapse and a powerful whirlpool pulls everything – including those who survived – into the depths. Banda appears as a hologram to taunt Arisu, but the ordeal isn’t over. Back outside, Ryuji desperately tries to pull Usagi down with him. Suddenly, a laser beam from the sky destroys Banda, and everything freezes. The world is torn apart by the overwhelming force of the water, time itself seeming to stop.

Borderland Leaks Even More into the Real World

That’s when Ken Watanabe’s character, the Watchman, shows up. With Banda gone, the Watchman reveals there’s no actual Joker – it was just a playing card. He explains he’s been watching Arisu because the young man has repeatedly survived situations where he should have died. The Watchman then proposes a simple game, Pick a Card, but things take a turn when Arisu draws two Joker cards. The Watchman offers Arisu the chance to decide his own destiny.

This dangerous whirlpool represents a journey between life and death, offering a return to the world for those who survive, bathed in the light of sunset. Ultimately, everyone will face the same situation as Arisu – the cycle of living and dying is unavoidable. Arisu tries to understand who controls this game, the ‘Watchman,’ and learns the answer is surprisingly simple: the Watchman isn’t a god or a villain, but someone motivated by their own fear of death. They are merely a part of a larger, incredibly powerful system, far beyond the control of ordinary people like Arisu.

The Watchman tells Arisu that a lot of people are about to die, and there’s nothing anyone can do to prevent it. Despite not knowing if his wife and child are still waiting for him, Arisu chooses to save Usagi and continue living. He jumps into the water, rescuing her, while Ryuji falls into the deadly pool. Back in the real world, Ryuji dies, and Usagi wakes up. Before the story concludes, the camera shows the rebuilt Shibuya Scramble Crossing, highlighting the other survivors from Season 2 as they go about their lives. We also see popular characters like Kuina and Chishiya at the counseling center where Arisu now works.

As a huge fan, I loved seeing how everyone seemed to have really grown from their time in Borderland. It was great to finally get some answers about what happened to them all! And honestly, Arisu and Usagi’s story felt so complete – seeing them build their perfect life together, even talking about baby names, was really satisfying. But the ending… wow. It definitely lived up to the Watchman’s creepy promises. Earthquakes are starting to happen all over the world, and there’s this really unsettling feeling that something bad is coming. The final scene, with Arisu back at work and a news report about a massive increase in earthquakes – especially in Japan, which they’re blaming on climate change – totally sets up Season 4. It’s a brilliant cliffhanger!

What about an Alice in Borderland Season 4?

This article focuses on Season 3, but many mysteries surrounding the Games and Borderland remain. Viewers are still wondering who’s truly pulling the strings, how the Watchman gained his position, and if there are any divine or demonic forces at play. As Season 4 launches, we’ll likely get answers soon, depending on viewership. Luckily, the series creator, Haro Aso, has already written two additional volumes, providing plenty of source material for future seasons of the show.

As a huge fan of Alice in Borderland, I was thrilled to see Arisu back in the Borderland in Alice in Borderland RETRY. It’s great how the story brings back all his memories and experiences from the games. What really got me hooked this time around was the added pressure – his wife was in labor! It definitely upped the stakes. Honestly, though, with only 13 chapters, Alice in Borderland RETRY felt like a really satisfying wrap-up, and I’m not sure there’s enough material for a full Season 3. A spin-off, though? Now that feels totally possible, especially with how Season 3 ended. It definitely left the door open!

Alice in Borderland Might Actually Take the Spin-off Path

Instead of continuing with the same characters, the show’s fourth season will likely be a spin-off set in the United States. The story could begin after a devastating earthquake hits, leaving a small number of survivors to compete in dangerous games for their lives within a ‘KA-based Borderland’. The season finale hinted at this new direction, showing a scene in a Los Angeles diner with two men requesting menus and sitting by the window. The waitress’s face remained hidden, and the only thing visible was her name tag, reading ‘Alice’. This is likely because the role hasn’t been cast yet, and Season 4 hasn’t been officially announced.

Okay, so the latest season really throws a curveball with a change of scenery – it feels like they’re setting up a potential American spin-off, and honestly, I’m here for it! We’ve seen this before with the original manga, which had its own spin-off series, Alice on Border Road, introducing fresh characters and a new take on the same core rules. Squid Game pulled a similar move with that cliffhanger involving Cate Blanchett’s character. This new location feels like a signal that Alice in Borderland could be heading in a similar, exciting direction, and I’m definitely hoping for more!

Read More

2025-10-23 22:43