We've compiled a selection of the best series in the spirit of 'Alice in Borderland' — for those who love adrenaline in their blood and on-screen survival games. This genre challenges your empathy: who to pity, and who, perhaps, not?

The third season of the series 'Alice in Borderland' has been released on Netflix, where Arisu and his friends have to learn to adapt on the fly, because the alternative Tokyo they end up in is not a gamer's dream, but a nightmare come true, where the stakes are life. The condition is simple: survive a series of elaborate deadly games or die.

What makes 'Alice in Borderland' so gripping? It's a mix of puzzles, psychological battles, and wild human imagination, captivating visual solutions, and a tense plot that doesn't let go until the very end.

We've gathered 7 series similar to 'Alice in Borderland' in spirit and atmosphere that you should watch if you liked the Japanese Netflix hit.

'Squid Game' (2021-2025)

A group of desperate people agrees to participate in terrifying childhood games for a huge cash prize. But the rules are cruel: the loser loses not only the chance for a new life but also their current one. The drama intensifies as participants confront the moral and human boundaries of their actions.

Why you should watch: This series became a global phenomenon: a combination of social satire, chilling thriller, and folk show all at once. 'Squid Game' perfectly shows that with enough poverty, even the classic 'Red Light, Green Light' can be turned into a sport with thriller elements.

'Liar Game' (2007-2010)

Naive student Nao Katsu gets drawn into a psychological money game where winning depends not so much on luck as on the ability to lie and manipulate. In each episode, the characters face new immoral dilemmas, and returning to an honest life is impossible — the stakes rise, and betrayals lurk around every corner.

Why you should watch: Every game, every trick is a delight for fans of intellectual confrontations. This series teaches you not to trust anyone or anything — not even yourself. There's no typical bloodbath here, but every plot twist, like another card game, captivates as if you yourself are participating in a dangerous tournament of logic and psychology.

'All of Us Are Dead' (2022-present)

In the largest school in South Korea, a zombie virus epidemic breaks out: students and teachers fight for survival in the corridors and classrooms of the educational institution. Each new day is a test of agility, friendship, and moral compromises.

Why you should watch: The main strength of this Netflix series lies in its straightforwardness and uncompromising nature. Here, the survivor is not the one who is smarter, but the one who runs faster and improvises better. Great pacing, brutal style, and unexpectedly deep moral questions in a world where behind every door, any student could be dinner.

'The 8 Show' (2024)

Among series about deadly games, 'The 8 Show' stands out — a Korean project where office workers are locked in a building with a bomb and a voice from a speaker. The rules are absurd, the tasks are too, but the consequences are quite concrete. Post-irony, cultural allusions, and double meanings reign: it seems this is not just a survival show but also a weighty commentary on office life.

Why you should watch: Unconventional humor, interesting characters, and the absence of familiar clichés elevate 'The 8 Show' to a new level of the survival game genre. Light self-mockery and recognizable office routine turn into satire that sometimes leaves you unsure whether to be scared or give a standing ovation.

'Erased' (2017)

In this Japanese story, there's an eccentric twist: instead of brutal survival games, it's a battle with time. The protagonist suddenly gains the ability to go back to the past and tries to prevent a series of brutal murders, correcting past mistakes — under the pressure of a tough timer where losing costs not only his life.

Why you should watch: 'Erased' is a rare combination of thriller, coming-of-age drama, and light science fiction. A real gift for those who want to both tickle their nerves and reflect on the nature of events we call 'coincidence.' If you want atmosphere and a little less bloodthirstiness, this series is your choice.

'Sweet Home' (2020-2024)

Apocalypse is when your neighbor turns into a monster literally in minutes. In 'Sweet Home,' the characters find themselves trapped in a residential complex where people one by one lose their human form and become monsters, and the only hope is collective salvation (or collective survival, to be precise).

Why you should watch: Horror aesthetics, powerful visuals, and psychological depth. It's clear that the creators try to dig deeper: why does a person become a monster, and can you hold onto anything human when the apocalypse is all around?

'Assassination Classroom' (2015-2016)

What if you add school life to deadly games? The anime 'Assassination Classroom' takes the genre to an absurdly comedic level. Students must kill their alien teacher, who threatens to destroy Earth... unless the students themselves kill him first.

Why you should watch: The trick is that behind all the fantastic premise lies a lot of reflection on friendship, motivation, and growing up. More humor, more emotions, and all under the banner of 'anime for adults' that isn't afraid to fool around and simultaneously evoke deep feelings.