Alice in Borderland Season 3 is set to premiere on September 25, 2025, on Netflix, and fans are eagerly awaiting answers to the many mysteries left unresolved by the previous seasons. The show, a live-action adaptation of Haro Aso’s manga, follows protagonists Arisu and Usagi as they navigate a deadly parallel Tokyo where survival depends on winning brutal games. With the introduction of the Joker card in the Season 2 finale, the upcoming season promises to delve deeper into the psychological and existential themes that have made the series a global hit. Here are 11 burning questions Season 3 must address.
😮 1. What Does the Joker Card Symbolize?
The final shot of Season 2 showed a Joker card remaining after all other cards were blown away. This card was never part of the games in previous seasons, leaving fans to speculate about its significance. The Joker often symbolizes chaos, illusion, or a wildcard element, suggesting that Arisu and Usagi’s journey may not be over. Could the Joker represent a new game master or a deeper level of the Borderland? Theories range from it signaling a final arbiter between life and death to indicating that the characters are still trapped in an illusion .
🔥 2. Who Is the True Mastermind Behind the Games?
While Season 1 pointed to Mira as the architect of the games, Season 2 revealed her as merely another player in a larger system. This raises the question: who is truly pulling the strings? Fan theories suggest possibilities ranging from a VR experiment orchestrated by an unseen elite to a metaphysical entity testing human will. The answer could redefine everything we know about the Borderland and its purpose .
🤔 3. Why Do Players Stay in Borderland as Citizens?
Some players who complete all games become “citizens” and choose to remain in Borderland, even orchestrating new games. Their motivations remain unclear. Are they forced to stay under threat of execution, or do they remain voluntarily because they find purpose or thrill in this world? Understanding their reasons could shed light on the true nature of Borderland and whether it offers something the real world cannot .
💥 4. Was the Meteor Strike intentional or Accidental?
The meteor strike that devastated Tokyo and sent survivors into Borderland appears to be the catalyst for the series’ events. However, whether it was a random tragedy or part of a larger, orchestrated plan remains unknown. If it was intentional, who had the power to manipulate such an event, and why target these specific individuals? This question ties directly into the overarching mystery of Borderland’s origins .
🎲 5. What Was the Mysterious Sound Mentioned by the Woman?
In Season 2, Arisu and Usagi discover a Super 8 film featuring a woman who recalls hearing a unique sound before arriving in Borderland, unlike the fireworks others remember. The recording cuts off before she can reveal what it was. Could this sound be related to the meteor strike, or does it hint at another mechanism for entering Borderland? This clue may hold the key to understanding how and why people are transported to this alternate world .
🕒 6. Why Do Players Arrive in Borderland at Different Times?
Despite the meteor strike occurring at a single moment, players arrive in Borderland at different times. Some become citizens long before others even appear. This discrepancy suggests that time operates differently in Borderland or that entry mechanisms vary. Exploring this could reveal whether all players come from the same event or if Borderland draws individuals from multiple timelines or incidents .
🌆 7. How Does Borderland Recreate All of Tokyo?
Borderland resembles Tokyo but is bordered by mountains, trapping players within a specific area. Yet, characters can explore the entire city, from Shibuya to its outskirts. If the meteor strike only affected a small region, how is this possible? This raises questions about whether Borderland is a digital simulation, a psychological construct, or an alternate dimension that mirrors reality .
🏔️ 8. Is Usagi’s Father the Joker?
A viral fan theory suggests that Usagi’s father, Shigenori, may be the Joker. In the series, Shigenori disappeared after a scandal involving a faked mountain climb. Fans speculate that he entered Borderland before the main timeline and became an overseer of the games. This theory is supported by Usagi’s flashbacks and the discovery of a mountain-filled area in Borderland. If true, it would add a deeply personal stake to Usagi and Arisu’s journey .
💑 9. How Will Arisu and Usagi’s Relationship Evolve?
Season 3 will explore Arisu and Usagi’s married life in the real world, but their peace is disrupted when Usagi is abducted by an afterlife researcher named Ryuji. Arisu must re-enter Borderland to save her, and the two are separated, forced to join different teams to survive. Their emotional connection will be tested as they navigate new games and challenges. How their relationship withstands these trials will be a central theme .
🧠 10. Will Characters Recover Their Memories?
One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the Season 2 finale was the characters forgetting their experiences in Borderland after waking up in the hospital. However, Arisu and Usagi felt an unexplained connection in the real world. Season 3 may explore whether they can regain these memories, possibly through a final game orchestrated by the Joker. This could provide closure for their relationships and sacrifices .
🔁 11. Are They Still in the Game?
The “They Never Left” theory proposes that the escape in Season 2 was an illusion, and the characters are still trapped in Borderland. The Joker card could signify that they are already in a new game, one that blends reality and illusion more seamlessly than before. This would align with Mira’s manipulative tactics and the show’s themes of perception and reality .
Credits: Beebom, The Economic Times
