Alice in Borderlandis still not as massive asSquid Gamein popularity despite belonging to the same genre, raising questions about what the Korean drama has done differently. The Japanese seriesAlice in the Borderlandpremiered beforeSquid Game’s first installment and garnered a new wave of attention after the Korean drama’s monumental rise to the top on Netflix. Owing to the shared ideas between the two shows and their similar narrative structures, many viewers could not help but compare them with one another.
While many appreciatedAlice in Borderland’s ambitiousness and scale, others admiredSquid Game’s groundedness and ability to reflect on real-world social issues. From a storytelling standpoint, it is still debatable which one of the two is better. However, when it comes to overall viewership and popularity,Squid Gameseems miles ahead ofAlice in Borderland. This difference in their commercial success makes it hard not to wonder what setsSquid Gameapart andwhereAlice in Borderlandstands in comparison.
How Popular Alice In Borderland Has Been For Netflix
Alice In Borderland Has Been A Global Hit
When it comes to non-English shows,Alice in Borderlandhas performed incredibly well on Netflix. The series' season 2 dominated charts after its release bydriving close to 61.2 million viewing hours in its opening weekend itself(viaNetflix). No other Japanese series comes close toAlice in Borderland’s viewing hours on Netflix, with the total viewing time for its two seasons mounting up to 80 million hours during season 2’s premiere weekend. Despite being a non-English series,Alice in Borderlandhas also earned worldwide acclaim and popularity with each season.
Alice In Borderland Season 3: Cast, Story & Everything We Know
With most of the storylines wrapped up, here’s everything we know about Netflix’s Alice in Borderland season 3 following season 2’s shocking ending.
The show’s second installment landed on Netflix’s Top 10 series list in 90 countries during its first week. In 9 countries,Alice in Borderlandseason 2 also took the number 1 spot, highlighting its massive global appeal. Owing toAlice in Borderland’s similarities withSquid Game, the Japanese Netflix series also trends every time a new installment of the Korean drama comes out. ConsideringAlice in Borderland’s popularity, it is not surprising that it already has two seasons, and even its third installment is set to land on Netflix in 2025.
Netflix has renewedAlice in Borderlandfor another installment, which goes to show how valuable of an IP it has been for the streaming giant.
Alice in Borderlandis based on a mangaseries of the same name. The show’s first two seasons exhaust all the stories from the source material, and season 2’s ending roughly aligns with the original manga’s. Despite this, Netflix has renewedAlice in Borderlandfor another installment, which goes to show how valuable of an IP it has been for the streaming giant.
Why Squid Game Has Been So Massively Popular Since Season 1
Its Simple Concept & Relatable Themes Have Contributed To Its Success
While many factors have contributed toSquid Game’s success, its popularity stems from its ability to use a simple concept to reflect on many relatable societal issues surrounding class divides, poverty, and greed. With its “game of the episode” format,Squid Gameeffectively keeps viewers white-knuckled by making them wonder how the stakes will gradually increase for the main characters. Its titular games are violent and unforgiving. However, at the same time, they also instill a sense of nostalgia and are easy to follow because of their wide recognition as childhood games.
WhileAlice in Borderlandseason 3 does not have a release date yet,Squid Gameseason 3is scheduled to be released on Netflix on July 12, 2025.
Despite having a massive roster,Squid Gamemanages to flesh out many of its main characters in its limited runtime. This makes it easier for viewers to stay invested in its story beats and also allows them to feel emotionally connected to their journeys and tragic fates. AlthoughSquid Gamehas many intriguing stories to tell,viewers can simply enjoy watching its central games or individual action-centric plotlines as separate elementswithout knowing too much about its characters. This makes the Korean drama far more binge-able than other Netflix shows that demand heavy mental investment.
It’s Unfair To Compare Most Netflix Shows To Squid Game
Squid Game Is In A League Of Its Own
While many non-Englishshows, likeMoney HeistandLupin, have driven impressive numbers on the streaming giant,Squid Gameseems to be on another level when it comes to overall viewership. While its first season boasts a total viewership of 265.2 million, the second sits at 178.9 million.This makesSquid Gameseason 1 even more popular than Netflix’s most viewed English show,Wednesdayseason 1, which has a viewership of 252.1 million (viaTudum).
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Stranger Things4
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Meanwhile,Squid Gameseason 2 also ranks above Netflix’s second most popular English show,Stranger Things 4, which is slightly above 140 million views. Given howSquid Gameis competing with English shows on Netflix that have the advantage of adopting the most widely spoken language globally, it seems unfair to compare it with other non-English shows. Owing to this, even thoughAlice in Borderlanddoes not come close to matchingSquid Game’s popularity, it still deserves credit for breaking into the survival genre and etching a unique identity of itself.
Are Alice In Borderland And Squid Game Really That Similar?
They Are Similar Only On The Surface
On the surface,Squid GameandAlice in Borderlandare similarin the sense that their action is primarily driven by a series of progressively harder survival games. However, beyond their themes of survival and high-stakes games, the two shows are significantly different. WhileSquid Gameremains fairly straightforward with its storytelling and riffs on some real-world socio-economic issues,Alice in Borderlandintroduces complex twists and turns that even have supernatural undertones.
AsAlice in Borderlandseason 2’s endingsuggests, the show does not even unfold on Earth, taking place in an alternate, abandoned version of Tokyo. Even the games in the Japanese manga adaptation can often be incredibly complex and far more grand in scale compared to the simple childhood playgroundgames inSquid Game. Thematically, both shows dabble with ideas surrounding justice, identity, and the complexity of life and death.
…Squid Gameis resonant from a more societal standpoint, whileAlice in Borderlandallows one to reflect on one’s sense of individuality and personal growth.
However, while Squid Game primarily focuses on themes of economic determinism and capitalism,Alice in Borderlandis more about finding oneself and reaching one’s true potential in a world brimming with flawed systems and uncertainties. Both shows reach a level of profundity with their underlying themes. The difference, though, lies in the fact thatSquid Gameis resonant from a more societal standpoint, whileAlice in Borderlandallows one to reflect on one’s sense of individuality and personal growth.
Alice in Borderland
Alice in Borderland follows a video-game enthusiast and his two friends who find themselves transported to an alternate Tokyo. There, they must participate in perilous games for survival.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
