Alice in Borderland Season 3 will finally be available on Netflix on September 25, 2025. As the new season starts, Arisu and Usagi are once again drawn into dangerous games where they have to deal with the mysterious Joker card.
Fans will also get to see important characters like Ann again, but Chishiya’s absence still stumps them. What you need to know about the trailer, cast, plot, and launch.
What Does the Alice in Borderland Season 3 Trailer Reveal?
Image © 2025 Haro Aso/Shogakukan/ROBOT/Netflix
Netflix put out the official trailer and teaser trailer for Alice in Borderland Season 3 in August 2025. Later, they put out the full official trailer. The trailer confirmed that the third season will start on the streaming service on September 25, 2025, all over the world.
It shows Arisu and Usagi getting caught up in dangerous games again after having a short, happy time together. The borderland is back with higher stakes, more cruel games, and the mysterious Joker as the last card.
Key Games and Visuals
The trailer shows off darker settings that were not there before. The characters have to do strange challenges, like dice games where they have to work together or fire arrows raining down at night. Japanese VFX technology is used to bring scenes from Haro Aso’s manga into the real world, directed by Shinsuke Sato.
- Shrine game: Arrows fall in waves during the first game.
- Dice game: Players tap dice, showing desperation and fear.
- Poster: Netflix released artwork showing Arisu and Usagi separated, reaching for each other.
- Joker card: Looms over the season as the last stage.
Arisu and Usagi’s Split Journey
Ryōhei Arisu and Yuzuha Usagi are separated early. Arisu joins a new team, while Usagi is forced to survive with different groups. Actor Kento Yamazaki said Arisu’s struggle shows how far he will go to save Usagi. Tao Tsuchiya added that everything Usagi has faced influences her choices this season.
- Arisu: Promises to save Usagi no matter the cost.
- Usagi: Must escape borderland again, showing growth.
- Teams: Characters compete against each other with shifting alliances.
- Themes: Love, survival, and the point of playing the games.
Will Alice in Borderland Return for Season 3 in September 2025?
Image © 2025 Haro Aso/Shogakukan/ROBOT/Netflix
Since the first season of Borderland premiered in 2020, fans have been waiting for news of a second season. Netflix made the official announcement in July 2025 that season 3 of Alice in Borderland will start on September 25.
Millions of Netflix users around the world watch the show, making it one of the most popular Japanese shows on the service. As usual for Netflix’s Japan TV shows, all episodes of the third season will come out at the same time.
Release Date and Episodes
It’s been almost three years since season 2 ended and season 3 began. Netflix said on its websites and official channels that season 3 will be available all over the world in September.
- Borderland season 1: Released December 2020.
- Season 2: Released December 2022.
- Season 3: Releases September 25, 2025.
- Episodes: Number unconfirmed, but all will be available on day one.
Story Setup After Season 2
Season 2 ended with Arisu and Usagi defeating Mira, the Queen of Hearts. In season 3, the two begin in the real world living a happy life, but their memories return in dreams. Usagi vanishes and is guided back by afterlife researcher Ryuji. Arisu must follow to save her, joining deadly games again.
- Story: Arisu is forced to play once more.
- Usagi: Pulled into the Borderland against her will.
- Banda: Reappears as a dangerous character.
- Joker: Serves as the final card that shapes the series ending.
Why Is Chishiya Not in Season 3?
Image © 2025 Haro Aso/Shogakukan/ROBOT/Netflix
Fans of the Alice in Borderland season are most curious about why Chishiya isn’t in the trailer or on the cast list. In early episodes, Shuntaro Chishiya, played by Nijirō Murakami, was a fan favorite. But there is no sign of him in the marketing for the third season, which has viewers guessing.
Actor Nijirō Murakami’s Hiatus
Japanese news sources said that Murakami took a break in 2023 because he was worried about his health. Because of this timing mistake, the production team had to change the scripts. His social media account was shut down, and the companies involved didn’t say much more.
- Reason: Sudden hiatus in March 2023.
- Impact: Season 3 planning disrupted.
- Control: The agency controlled his appearances to improve content balance.
- Result: Character left uncertain in the TV series.
Role Changes in Season 3
Without clear confirmation, fans are left to wonder if Netflix intends to hide Chishiya’s role until later episodes. His absence may mean he appears briefly or not at all.
- Cast list: Does not include Murakami.
- Trailer: Chishiya missing from July and August videos.
- Speculation: Could join later in the season.
- Outcome: Leaves viewers debating his fate in the borderland.
Who Is the Joker in Alice in Borderland?
Image © 2025 Haro Aso/Shogakukan/ROBOT/Netflix
Since the end of the second Borderlands season, the Joker has been one of the most interesting mysteries. The Joker is connected to the afterlife in Haro Aso’s manga. He acts as a ferryman who takes people from this world to the next.
The card is the last stage in season 3 of Alice in Borderland, which was hinted at in the official trailer and poster in August. Since Arisu and Usagi have to go back to the games, this adds another level of tension. The movie is being directed again by Shinsuke Sato, and fans are looking forward to the Joker’s most important role in the story.
Joker’s Role in Manga and Live-Action
In the manga, Joker is shown to be neither good nor bad. In the TV show, the card can be interpreted in different ways. This lets companies like Netflix make better content while keeping fans guessing.
- Joker meaning: Represents purgatory, choice, and survival.
- Manga role: Guides characters after games end.
- Netflix series: Teases Joker as the final card in videos and trailers.
- Outcome: Could decide who will survive and who will not.
Joker’s Tease in Season 3
Netflix has used Joker heavily in marketing. From the September release announcement to teaser videos on YouTube and streaming sites, the Joker appears as a looming presence. The Joker could also be tied to the new character afterlife researcher Ryuji, who pulls Usagi back to the Borderland.
- Poster: Shows Joker card above Arisu and Usagi.
- Trailer: Joker hinted during the shrine game scene.
- Usagi escapes Borderland: Now forced back, symbolizing no control over fate.
- Speculation: Joker could be an intended test of humanity in this world.
Is Ann in Season 3 of Alice in Borderland?
What does Rizuna Ann do in Borderland season 3? This is another important question for Alice. Fans loved her during season 2 because she was a good leader and doctor. In September, Netflix confirmed that Ayaka Miyoshi would play Ann again, joining Arisu and Usagi in more dangerous games.
It’s clear from her presence that some characters have come back to compete and stay alive almost three years after the show’s finale in December 2022.
Ann’s Return Confirmed
Ann’s return is important because she makes the group more balanced. Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) and Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) are both going through emotional turmoil, and Rizuna Ann brings logic and strategy to the mix. Netflix used her in trailers, posters, and official sites to show that she would be in the third season.
- Character: Rizuna Ann, doctor and survivor.
- Actor: Ayaka Miyoshi confirmed by Netflix.
- Role: Supports Arisu and Usagi against games.
- Marketing: Appears in posters and official announcement videos.
Importance of Ann’s Character
Ann survived previous challenges by keeping calm under pressure. In the borderland, where players must compete in sadistic games, her ability to think clearly helps the group. With the Joker as the final card, her role may be to guide them toward a safer experience.
- Skills: Medical expertise used to help others survive.
- Symbol: Represents hope in a world of death.
- Connection: Keeps Arisu focused when he doubts.
- Future: May be forced to make sacrifices in later episodes.
Final Thoughts
Alice in Borderland season 3 will be available on Netflix in September. It will bring Arisu, Usagi, and Ann back to the borderland. With cruel games, new characters, and the Joker, the last card, the third season raises the stakes. Fans will be looking for answers about how to survive, the mystery, and what life is all about as they watch the TV show.
Every episode adds new parts to the story, sometimes because of ads and sometimes because of fate. It’s like how browsers have essential cookies, optional cookies, and other technologies that make Meta products better. The characters in this world have to change, compete, and stay alive.
FAQs
When is Alice in Borderland season 3 released?
Netflix confirmed a September 25, 2025, release with new features and updates like essential cookies.
Who returns in Alice in Borderland season 3?
Arisu, Usagi, and Rizuna Ann return to the Borderland season, showing how optional cookies and similar technologies can affect survival.
What is the Joker card in Alice in Borderland?
It is the final card, a symbol like meta products that improve meta products but also control the point of death and play.
Where can I watch Alice in Borderland season 3?
You can watch on Netflix through any browser, streaming service, or site with videos and ads.
Why is Alice in Borderland season 3 important?
It continues the TV series based on the manga, showing how features of survival improve content and allow fans to search for meaning in this world.