Imawa no Kuni no Alice
Alice in Borderland

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Imawa no Kuni no Alice is the only survival game story where I can actually feel invested into many characters. Lots of times, these "death game" stories involve a large volume of people, many of them who get introduced very quickly and don't have much of a personality. They might die soon, or stay for the ride for a certain amount of time. The fact that Imawa no Kuni no Alice has a pretty large host of characters, having some of them die, and them still having unique and developed personalities with dynamic thoughts and actions is definitely a feat that I have not seen ... in any other survival death game. It's the only death game story with good characters all around the board. This can definitely be attributed to the fact that unlike many of the other series like these, the mysteries, the games, and the side stories all add a world building and depth of characterization that is unmatched. Everything in this story is about learning about the motivations that a character has, and what weaknesses they have. The fact that there is such a focus on this aspect of feelings the past that makes them what they are today makes for a story with rich characters.
Like I mentioned before, one of the reasons why this story is great is because of the side stories. These side stories don't involve the main cast of characters, but have a great focus on side characters. Not only are these side stories entertaining to watch in terms of death game content, it also brings along the introduction and analysis of the many different side characters that influence the plot later on. This, paired along with the large focus on the feelings of characters and the exploration of their pasts and motivation make the characters the strongest aspect I've ever seen.
Imawa no Kuni no Alice is also much more realistic in the depiction of characters' psyche. While a lot of these death game protagonists have seemingly unbreakable hearts, Alice has a lot of hesitation and darkness within his heart that gets explored in the entire series. That's to be expected. He experiences tragedy and falters, and his heart gets broken. The other characters are the same. Their life was hard as it was, so why do they have to play death games? Maybe just end it all. There's a lot of characters that don't have the courage to face death games anymore, or these death games twist their personality to an extreme.
Other than that, I think just the variety of death games that Alice plays are interesting and fun on their own right, but also the process of trying to figure out the mysteries of the island are. It was very fun seeing how the atmosphere of near death situations affects peoples' actions, and how a decision can mark the death of a person, and Imnawa no Kuni no Alice perfects this craft. Not only can the reader experience the chaos of the situation, they also in turn, are able to learn more about the characters and their inner thoughts.
Of course, the final arc was huge bust. It was pretty trashy, and it's the reason why I lowered the score from a 9 to an 8. It's a cheap bailout is what it is. Pair that along with some massive plot armor and questionable actions that some characters make in order for Alice and his friends to survive, it's definitely not a perfect novel.

*Review contains spoilers*

Story 8/10
It took me a while to write this review after reading the manga because it provoked so many clashing thoughts and emotions, that I had to take some time to think about it and sort it all out before putting anything into words. But here I go:
While reading this, I kept thinking this story seemed like a combination of Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Your Name and Saw...meaning, similar narratives are out there. However, this story felt fresh and unique because of the logistics of the game (using cards to easily identify type of game and difficulty) and types of relationships and ... alliances explored. This story managed to keep me glued to the pages and desperate to know what would happen next. There was never a dull or boring moment. I have to commend the mangaka for such creative games and intricate story. I really enjoyed to see how all the side stories and characters intertwined. Moreover, this is a story that makes you reflect on and think about many deep concepts, such as the meaning/value of life and/or reasons why you live, without becoming redundant or repetitive. I also loved how much you can relate and identify with the characters and their pain (I don't think I could ever get over the 7 of hearts arc).

The only reason I am not giving this section a 10 is due to the final 2 chapters, specially the ending (although I know liking the ending or not is a matter of taste and approach used to interpret the story). Basically, the whole Borderland was a place created in people's minds in light of experiencing a near death experience. I can't say the ending was unsatisfactory, but the explanation given to the Borderland I found a bit disappointing and not fulfilling. It didn't really make sense to me that the Borderland was just in people's mind and that coming out of it, they remembered nothing about what happened but did feel connected to those they became close with while in the Borderland (and also had the same injuries they got while being in the Borderland when they came back to their 'original world')...so the Borderland was a collective phenomenon created and terminated by who? who came up with this games concept? had the "players" who died in the Borderland actually passed away before even entering the games? did the "players" that died in the games even have a chance or where they doomed to die due to their meteor related injuries? did the games actually represent the "players'" fight to keep living in the "original world"? does people dying in the same game represent people dying due similar circumstances/injuries sustained in the meteor clash? And why even torture Arisu into thinking he was responsible of his friends' deaths if it was a meteor? I felt this ending left more questions than answers.

Yes! the Borderland can be taken as a figurative language, which would allow readers to focus on what it represents and how those people that go through a collective traumatic experience feel connected to each other. But then that would mean the book was mostly a parallel universe for the whole time, which I don't know that I feel too comfortable with after spending 62+ chapters reading about such a detailed and structured place. Obviously the author did it, but I don't think it is realistic for a character, unexpectedly and with such short notice (because none of the characters were even aware of them being struck by a meteor or pieces of it) could have created or imagined such an out of the ordinary place as the Borderland or come up with so many specific and complicated back stories for so many people. Honestly, I would have been happier with one of the Queen of Hearts explanations than the Borderland being a product of a catastrophe. Now, if you decide to see the Borderland as a figure of speech, the mangaka did an excellent job in creating a place you hang on in, battling between life and death and having a place where people can reflect on their life and the things they have done thus far...a place where you face yourself and your reality.

Another thing I think hurt the story a little was the frequent occurrence of non-realistic things even for a dystopian world. For example, Agni getting shot multiple times and not dying, not even because of a hemorrhage. The K of Spades having his neck broken and still remaining alive for a bit when that should be a fatal wound. Nigari being burnt, brutally hit and shot and still being alive...that guy at the church who shut himself in the mouth and still was alive and asking to be killed. This was some superhuman thing that could not even be passed off as a result of high adrenaline amount.

Art 8/10
In all honesty, initially, I hated the drawings. It felt very much like I was reading a Marvel comic and not manga (although I think Mangas are actually Japanese comics). It could also be that for this genre of manga the drawings are usually like this and I am not used to this type of drawings because of mostly reading shoujo. However, as the story progressed I stopped noticing the drawings and was mostly invested in the developments. I have to say though that character's both facial expressions and body language really conveyed character's emotions and reactions to events.

Characters 9/10
To me, this is an area where the manga excels. I very much liked the diversity of characters and what they each contributed to the story. You had very noble people, like Arisu or Momoka or Chouta but then you had quite the oposite, with psychopaths such as the winners of the J of Hearts, who wanted to remain in the Borderland to continue killing human beings. There was a ton of character development, specially in Arisu, Chishiya and Agni. It was great to see how the author provided solid back story to most of the characters.
Strongest characters:
-Karube. I loved Karube and I am sure if he had survived until the end many things would have turned out differently, even for Arisu himself. I really felt he was the backbone for their group and biggest support for Arisu and Chouta. I felt he was very resourceful and courageous enough to do what needed to be done to survive.
-Chishiya. Even though he was extremely condescending, I think he was a really clever character and smart enough to not allow himself to be swayed by his emotions. He was selfish and didn't really care for anyone else more than himself until the very end, but in a place like the Borderland, who could blame him?
-Agni. I have to say I hated Agni's guts until he met Doudou and showed to be capable of actually caring for someone else and act accordingly.
Weakest characters:
-Chouta. I found Chouta mostly annoying and a big cry baby.
-Usagi. Apart from bringing Arisu back from the hole he was in when his friends passed away and when the Queen of Hearts drudged him, I don't see anything important she contributed to the story. Usagi felt more like means to an end, which was to support Arisu through the process when he was alone (obviously anyone would need support to get through this, but she didn't really do anything too remarkable).
Worthy mentions:
-Arisu. I think Arisu really represented resilience and really liked how he was able to pull through and come back strongly after every blow.
-Niragi. Oh man, this was a very very very mean and cruel guy. However, I liked his roles because he represented a real group of people that doesn't matter what happens to them, remain being the same person despite how much life tells them to act differently. Unfortunately for him, he remained true to his character throughout the whole manga.
-Doudou. OK, so this character doesn't really get too many relevant scenes. Yet, I feel his emotions were one of the most realistics when finding yourself in this unknown and dangerous place. Doudou tried to use deceiving tactics to survive but couldn't do it for long because that was not who he was. He was very dependant on other people to survive. He was terrified for the most of the time and really showed his potential to fight back when a person he really cared about was in danger. I think Doudou represents people both in real life and the parallel world of the Borderland.

Enjoyment 8/10
I kept interested in the whole manga most of the time. There were a few chapters, specially towards the end, focussed in Arisu, that I thought could have been used for something else, such as covering how other games were cleared. Again, I have to commend the mangaka for such meticulous and ingenious world and games he created in this manga.

Overall 8/10
This is a truly enjoyable read, specially if you like things that keep you at the edge of your seat. I would recommend it to people.

*Side note: I came across this manga due to the Netflix show because I didn't want to wait for a year or more to see what would happen. I would say the show, at least the first season, remains 75-80% true to the manga.

I'm a sucker for gaming/gambling manga, it's just a style I really enjoy, but they tend to have a few problems. Whether they focus too such on Mahjong, are unable to continue to up the ante, make the main character impossibly good at "games" so there's no risk of loss, or are too focused on the games to inject any plot outside of that.

So when I came to "Alice in Borderland" (as I'll call it) I was hesitant. It seemed to have all the same earmarks of previous works. With the characters appearing in an alternate Tokyo with out people, it ... was questionable if they could really explain what's going on, then random over produced games started happening. The first with the players risking their lives seem interesting and has a good concept, but ends with the players getting a playing card. One out of 52...

All of a sudden I got a sinking feeling, 52 games, so that means the author would either have to create 51 new games, or abandoned the idea before reaching the end.

The fact is Alice in Borderland avoids both of these problems by weaving a narrative around the main character rather than through him. Arisu and his group of friends is the main protagonist who explores the world at first and there's a great bond between them that develops. Rather than just a friend group who appears and readers are forced to accept you feel the bond between the characters.

But ultimately the games in Borderland are also intended to be games of life and death, and that fact isn't to be taken lightly. Through out the manga, many people die. Each death isn't done with horrific imagery like Battle Royale, but most feel as impactful because the development of many characters in the manga makes you feel their loss.

What really works is that after the manga focuses entirely too much on Arisu, the manga ends up broadening out to multiple characters, and becomes an ensemble cast. What that means is that Arisu is no longer the only protaganist, and isn't involved in many of the games. Some of the games are shown as side stories, with new characters, who are interesting and unique but are at the most vulnerable, because with out main character plot armor, they are able to fail. While even within the main story, the focus is on survival, beating the games is the ultimate goal of the group as a whole, so the risk to each individual character including Arisu in the manga grows as it's clear the manga can continue with out the character in the group.

Ultimately though what really stood out for me is how the story is told, the development of the characters, and the interesting situations each character is placed in, or what each game requires players to do.

But what makes me give this a 10 is simply three points.

A. The manga never "cheats". If it says "Only one will survive" that's it. Characters don't magically revive after being killed off either.

B. There's no "Friendship will win" type of BS. This is a pure survival against these games manga that doesn't cheapen the experience by trying to moralize or invoke some special rules.

C. The manga's story has a purpose that explains enough of it to be satisfying.

That final point is probably what really resonated with me. For 50-ish books I couldn't imagine a way that Alice in Borderland could end that would make what happens in the manga important with out leaving major unanswered about what was going on. However in the final chapters of the book, I can say I ended up quite satisfied. The explanation was solid enough that it felt like it was always intended. The story is wrapped up, and while there were still questions I had, they weren't questions that left plot holes.

And ultimately that's why this manga receives a rare 10 from me. It's a genre I enjoyed, the style works, the story feels complete and unrushed with out unnecessary filler, and it's an experience I look forward to revisiting in a couple years, or just watching on Netflix to experience it in a different format.

That sounds like an easy list, but it's shocking how few Manga are unable to meet that criteria.

Unlike most death games shows, animes, and mangas, I think that what differentiates Alice in Borderland from other death games mediums in an unseen-before way (at least in the animanga world), is that it delivers a clear story, driven entirely by the choices the characters go through with, whether those be right or wrong. Where lies the foreign in that? There exists very little to no bias towards the characters. The audience reading get a clear view of every story being presented in front of them, from the past and the present, which allows them to think freely and make decisions for themselves. Can they ... justify a certain character's actions after hearing their reasonings? Do they hate the character, but come to empathise towards the end? Do they continue rooting for the character even after every decision they've made along the way? But while the audience gets to think a bit longer for their decisions, the characters don't have much commodity in that, because the story is so full of consequences. One wrong move or word could cost your life. When talking about decision making, the manga shows itself to be either ruthless, or promising with what's to follow afterwards.

But when it comes to deciding which would be this manga's strongest point? Maybe the philosophy behind it all. The manga tries to delve into the uglier side of humanity -- seeking answers to questions too depressing and upsetting perhaps, to talk freely about. Throughout every chapter, we're finding reasons and reasons behind the characters' actions and words, trying to capture their thoughts and, while knowing their backgrounds, what was it that made them think like this. Questions such that, the reader never gets a straight-forward answer either -- they are left to agree with the answer they identify with the most; the story's far from imposing when it comes to it.

With every question asked, come answers, and with the answers, come the characters delivering them. What I love most when it comes to the characters is their simplicity. All of them are regular people you're most likely to meet in the day to day life, not even the main character has an extraordinary/supernatural bone to him -- and that simplicity brings them closer to the audience. Unlike most shounen heroes, Arisu isn't the strongest physically or the smartest kid around. He's nothing but a high school student, too interested in video games to care about the future like his father urges him to. And throughout the manga, he doesn't exhibit any sort of determination all the way -- he shows a lot of moments of weakness, moments of giving up, moments that might perhaps be annoying to the reader, and moments when sometimes he's almost selfish. But that's to be expected from a young boy; that's to be expected from a normal person. All of them are nothing but simple civilians, once leading a life of difficulties and full of emptiness, now fighting for their lives and perhaps getting a second chance at becoming who they'd want to be. And maybe because of that, there isn't much character development as well, or at least, not much unpredictable development.

The games itself were quite interesting. They were fresh, something not so commonly seen before in other works (at least I haven't); they were challenging and could keep the reader on their toes sometimes. The face card games were definitely better than the number card games, and they fit the corresponding representers really well, even if it meant some games were maybe not too exciting or anything violent and anticipating to witness, such as the Q♥︎ game. But just as I enjoyed the characters' simplicity, I enjoyed this game's simplicity as well, more so knowing it fit well personality-wise with the character hosting.

Overall, this was a manga that I enjoyed a lot, and has become one of my favourites. Having seen the Netflix adaptation first, it got me curious to pick up the series, and I'm glad I did in the end. I won't say that this is the most perfect series you'll come across, but I think if you're into interesting and uniquely (maybe?) entertaining death games, character-driven plot, reflecting on life and death along with the characters, then the series is definitely worth a read.

Alice in Borderland is a thrilling Japanese sci-fi series that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where the city is devoid of people except for a few survivors. The series follows the story of three friends - Arisu, Chota, and Karube, who suddenly find themselves in a deserted Tokyo where they are forced to play deadly games in order to survive.

The characters are complex and multifaceted, with each having their own unique backstory and motivations. Arisu is the main protagonist, who is intelligent and strategic, but also reckless and impulsive. Chota is the witty and sarcastic sidekick who provides much-needed comic relief in the midst ... of the chaos. Karube is the loyal friend who has a hidden past that is gradually revealed as the story progresses.

The environment of the show is one of the highlights, with each game taking place in a different surreal setting that looks like it was designed by an artist on an LSD trip. The attention to detail in the production design and special effects is impressive, creating a visually stunning and immersive world.

The story is full of unexpected twists and turns that keep the audience guessing and on the edge of their seats. The games themselves are creative and unique, ranging from puzzles to deadly battles, and each game reveals more about the characters and their past.

Overall, Alice in Borderland is a gripping and intense series that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. With its well-written characters, surreal environment, and mind-bending plot, this show is a must-watch for anyone who loves action, suspense, and psychological thrillers.

This is a series that means much to me. It’s one of those series that changes and challenges you.
This is one of the best psychological manga I’ve read, and a great thriller too.

The protagonist has great development and it inspires you.
Great villains, great side characters, and just so many things I love.
One thing I love the most is the side stories it has.
There will be chapters where the MC isn’t the main focus, and all the side stories wrap up with one another into the main story beautifully...

This story will suck you in. And it’s a ride worth riding.

I almost cried reading the last chapters, this one hits hard if you're struggling in life.

I loved the "Stop overthinking everything for once and get a feel for it. Cast aside your existential crisis" part. Maybe for some it will sound cheesy, cliché or whatever, but as someone that has gone though some real crazy stuff in life, I can assure you those words are like a wake up call, just what some of us need to hear but refuse to with all of ourselves.

Sometimes you just can't help but overthink everything, you were raised like that, life taught you some insane lessons, ... anxiety is eating you at every single minute, your stress level is through the roof, people is shit and let's not even mention money... and, in the middle of all that, is right where you are all alone just not knowing what to do, just feeling lost and confused.

Then the "Ask yourself this. What do you really want to do?" part follows, beautiful line in my opinion. Exactly where I miss the point every single time, precisely the stage where many of us are stuck in. I don't know what I want in life yet, 29 long years I've lived in this planet unsure on what to do next and honestly speaking, I'm tired of it, of all of what "life" involves. I remember there was a moment in time where I felt like I had everything sorted out, but I failed at some point and now I constantly feel like a total loser.

However, as of lately I've been thinking that maybe I'm just overthinking stuff and worrying about everything (as always) and, that it certainly is time to stop bitching about every single thing and do something with whatever it is that's been bothering me, lol.

Yeah, this manga is the slap in the face I needed. 10/10

First off, this is one of the greatest manga I’ve ever read.

The story is compelling, tragic, action packed, draining, and survival.

I have never felt so connected to a story like this. It’s a true masterpiece. “Play or die” genre is my favorite but this story takes it much rather than that.

The tragedy is deep, it places you directly in each character seat. It draws you in as if you’re there with them.
Nothing is off limits in the borderlands.

I didn’t like the art style at first but it grew on me quickly as the story continued
...
I truly cannot see how anyone would dislike this manga

11/10

Well, I guess it was good enough for me to finish. The art is fine, good, nothing special but better than a lot of other stuff. The story itself, is a bit of a bumpy ride. It starts out very fast, and appears like it's going to be interesting, but then it sort of falls off and wanders for most of the rest of the series. I found that once the end was approaching, I was once again interested to see where the story was going to go. I think the mystery of the whole thing is it's biggest ally and will more than likely ... get you through the story. Be warned though, the ending is not well liked by a lot of people and, though I actually did like it, I'm in the minority I believe. It's one of those quirky endings that can be common in mysteries that leave a lot of people divided on whether the ride was really worth it. I'm not sure the ride was worth it, I just appreciated it the ending for what it was. I think it suited such a negative story. That also made it difficult to read at times. It's pretty dark, almost too dark without enough hope to keep you wanting to continue, so that can be a slug fest at times. It's an interesting concept, though I think it could have been done a bit better. Wouldn't purchase it as of now, maybe a reread would impress me more. I'm not going to full on recommend it, but I'd say it's safe to check it out and see what all the hype is about. It's also going to be for more mature readers I think. Younger readers will probably have a hard time staying engaged. A bit like Monster, a slow burn with a lot psychology that younger adults will find really interesting as they are finding themselves in their own lives and beginning to ask bigger questions about life, people, etc.

imawa no kuni no alice, or alice in borderland, was NOT what i was expecting. like, literally AT ALL.

story, 9.5: what i thought would be a death game manga where friendship triumphs all challenges! turned out to be.. well, kinda true?? like i dont even really know, the more you read, the more that idea gets twisted, but never disappears. the further in you read, the topics that this series delves into go from "dont you wish you had an escape from your reality?" into "what is the point of life?" and "what is our purpose?" and all sorts of other complex questions. this complexity ... is my own frustration with this series, because there was so much that went past me in just the last 10 chapters alone, so many messages and themes i didnt pick up on that i know are there, because i saw the patterns, but didnt catch the meanings. which is why the series is rated as an 8, if i were to reread this series with everything i know now, i think this series would easily go up to a 9-9.5.

this series can get genuinely gut wrenching, i got some tears even in early developments, if a series can do that for me i think itd do it for anyone lol. also there are some story beats that i think go by WAAAY too fast, like the introduction of a certain character that becomes a main character in practically a chapter, and they have one of the most important roles too. but thats a major nitpick overall, genuinely, if you consider your self lost, and you dont really know your purpose, then i really think you should pick this up.

art, 7: it is.. okay! its not bad but its not really something that sticks out to me too much. the character designs are nice i suppose. does it job well but you should really read it for the story; though all art IS subjective, so you might think its awesome so what do i really know.

characters, 8: this ones weird, the characters themselves to me are all different forms of answers in the face of the story's questions. i dont know if that makes any sense, but when i think of the characters in this series, they all feel like different answers and different paths for each of the complex questions asked.. its really hard to explain. the characters just feel so in tune with the story and what its trying to convey.

as for the actual CHARACTER of the characters.. they aight, some are super cool, some are pathetic, some are forgettable.. but the best characters are the ones that go through change though.

enjoyment, 8: i need a reread sometime but i had my jaw drop every couple chapters, definitely worth.

overall, 8.

"Alice in Borderland," or as I like to call it, "The Ultimate 'What If Your Life Was Actually a High-Stakes Game?' Simulator," is not just a manga; it's a masterclass in how to blend psychological thrillers with a dash of existential dread, all while making you seriously question your own problem-solving skills.

The premise is simple yet profoundly compelling: What if, one day, you're whisked away to a parallel Tokyo where the only way to survive is by participating in deadly games? It's like someone looked at our mundane lives and thought, "Let's spice things up a bit," by turning the very fabric of existence into ... a game board. And thus, "Alice in Borderland" was born, serving not just as entertainment but as a philosophical inquiry into the nature of life itself.

Our protagonist, Ryohei Arisu (a nod to the titular Alice, because why not add a layer of literary allusion to the mix?), finds himself navigating this surreal, game-laden landscape. It's a tale that's as much about survival as it is about the search for meaning in a world that seems to have discarded all rules except one: win or die. It's thrilling, it's chilling, and it's got more twists than a bag of pretzels at a contortionist convention.

What I genuinely adore about "Alice in Borderland" is its ability to keep you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, as you flip through each page. The games are ingeniously designed to test not just physical strength, but intellect, morality, and the very essence of human spirit. It's like the characters are being asked, "How much of your humanity are you willing to sacrifice to survive?" And let's be honest, who hasn't pondered that question while sitting in a particularly boring meeting or class?

But beyond the adrenaline-inducing games, there's a profound exploration of relationships, trust, and leadership. The bonds that form amidst chaos, the betrayals, the heartbreaks, and the moments of triumph—it's a rollercoaster of emotions that mirrors the unpredictability and the sheer, raw intensity of life itself.

In a way, "Alice in Borderland" is a metaphor for our own existence. Life is a game, filled with challenges, puzzles, and the occasional need to team up with strangers to solve a life-or-death riddle. It's a reminder that sometimes, the world doesn't make sense, and all we can do is play the hand we're dealt as cleverly as we can.

To say I like "Alice in Borderland" would be an understatement. It's a thrilling, thought-provoking saga that combines the best elements of psychological thrillers with a keen insight into the human condition. It's in my top 5 for a reason, standing as a testament to the power of storytelling to explore the deepest questions of existence, all while keeping you wildly entertained. In the end, isn't that the ultimate game we're all playing?

This concept is simply thrilling. The cruelty and genius with which the games are constructed just won't let you stop reading. Characters are vivid with interesting psychological portraits, thus make the games way more enjoyable and also dreaded for the reader.

Just like the protagonists, you as well will be haunted by the pressing question: "What's the answer?" And even though Ann offered an answer (while Mira offered another 10), I feel like there are as many answers as there are people in the Borderlands. Nothing is finite.

Better live your life to the fullest, so you won't end up in that twisted place!

This review will contain minimal spoilers for interested readers.


Story - 8/10:

Death game style manga that for me felt like Gantz, Battle Royale, and Liar Game all mixed together. It takes a few chapters to ramp up but once it gets going, it's a wild ride to the finish. The world building is really done right here and helps to get you invested into the story as well.

Art - 8/10:

Art grows on you and does a great job at conveying the emotions of the moment. There are some great pages where the artist really flexes their artistic skills and some of the darker panels in ... the final few chapters are jaw dropping. There is a lot of gore which is expected for the plot so watch out for that if it's not really your thing.

Characters - 9/10:

This is where the manga really shines. The author does a great job in showing the backgrounds of all the characters and doesn't have black and white moral/evil characters. The characters really help to build the world and you also get to see some interesting characters and how some scenarios play out according to the authors world views and thoughts on human nature, logic, etc.

Enjoyment - 8/10:

I watched the show on Netflix and after finishing it, had more questions than answers. Found that it was based on this manga and binged it in two days. Definitely has some addictive qualities. It's the perfect length for a weekend binge and never really lulls in any spot.

Overall - 8/10:

I enjoyed it and think people who like any of the mangas mentioned above will also enjoy it. Give it a try if it fits your taste!

The manga version of Alice in Borderlands is way better than the Netflix series.

You can actually go without watching the Netflix adaption due to it having too much filler & focusing too much screentime on scenes that weren't as pivotal in the manga.

This manga is a mix of horror and psychology.

It's worth the read :)

Anyways! This is a great manga especially for readers who have a gamer background!

... You are introduced to a variety of characters from different backgrounds that are isekai'd into the borderlands, an alternate version of their current world that involved life or death games.

Each game involves playing cards that act as sort of a point/ rule system.

The higher the number of the card signifies the difficulty of the game.

The type of suite determines the method of the game.

The actual games the players play range from a variety of simple games, for example, an intensified reverse version of hide and go seek.

Players are forced to use their wits to try to survive the games as an individual or group.

As a gamer, I enjoyed the message of this manga despite not being able to relate personally to many of the characters.

I would never want to be sent to the borderlands!

Those who can live breathe gaming on a life or death level will enjoy their time in the borderlands. There are some characters who love the nonstop carnage & stress, so not everyone is trying to escape it.


I'm glad this manga had a decent ending, it's not entirely predictable either!

¿por qué estamos vivos? ¿qué nos motiva a vivir? esas son las grandes preguntas que nos plantea alice in borderland a lo largo de 87 capítulos.
2000 personas varadas en un mundo distópico en el que nadie recuerda haber llegado y en el que tienen que participar de juegos para extender sus propios días de supervivencia.
Dentro de este universo, el manga prefiere hacer énfasis en la psicología de cada uno de los personajes (porque sí, indaga en el razonamiento y cuestionamiento de la vida de CADA personaje secundario mínimamente relevante) para poder hacernos reflexionar a medida que transcurre la obra, viendo la evolución tanto ... de la trama principal "superficial" -como escapar de borderland- como de la verdadera trama que transcurre a la par -cómo poder avanzar en la vida-, porque este es un manga que trata sobre como tratar la infelicidad, las injusticias que amargan la vida, las pérdidas, la depresión.
El mayor mérito de esta obra es poder plantear múltiples maneras de cómo avanzar, ya sea la del personaje principal, arisu, que busca una respuesta para la infelicidad y el maltrato que recibió toda su vida y la encuentra a través de usagi, su esperanza. O Kuina, una mujer trans que está en conflicto con su identidad por la culpa que siente por la muerte de su padre, el cual termina ayudandola a través de sus enseñanzas y mostrando que ella pudo cerrar su herida.
"la vida es un juego, deberías disfrutarla"

Alice in Borderland is a manga I enjoyed reading. The question of why we live life is a wonderful and difficult theme. The answer the manga comes up with is avoiding the question entirely. As the answer is, it's different for everyone but life is ultimately valuable.

Arisu struggles with a lot of emotional issues and the solution for all of them is a girl. A girl that pathetically only exists as his motivation. The manga makes up for it by other female characters that make an impact, especially in the Side Stories. Arisu is very much a typical Seinen protagonist similar to Battle Royale, ... Oyasami Punpun, and Parasyte. Indecisive young men who learn life lessons and eventually become normal. Something that plagues this genre is external motivations, a girlfriend, a job, or a stable family life. These things are important to young Japanese men and they are the targeted audiences.

Story: 6/10
Unfortunately, Alice in Borderland utilizes all the typical elements of its genre to tell a story. His motivations, his friends, his rivals, his journey are all things we have read or watched before. We know what path the story is going to go in. I can't express how much I hate the line "protective instincts". When I read it I wanted to vomit. Are the main characters incapable of internal motivations, it is always reserved to side characters like Kyuuga?

Character: 8/10
Despite the weak writing, the characters are interesting. This is the strength of a serialized manga. As almost every character needs a backstory even ones that don't deserve it. Arisu's development is strange as he regresses at some points in the story. Thankfully, this allows for side stories. These side stories use the setting to the maximum advantage. While many of the characters in these stories are also typical manga characters. The short time we spend with them and the curiosity of knowing them to keep you interested. While the ending of many games can be strange, they are used to elevate the characters involved in them.

I wanted to highlight these two things as these are a result of the medium and genre. The medium allows for internal monologues and extended time exploring the characters and an elevation of suspense as time passes according to the author whims. While the genre holds back the manga.By being held prisoners to certain themes and cliches for the young men reading. We don't want our main characters to be complex people that we can disagree with. We don't want our love interest to be humans that can elevate us from our comfort by being active. We want them to be puppets that do things when we what them to.

Reading through a lot of the critical reviews, I feel like one thing lacking for people to fully enjoy this work, is the understanding that it is a huge homage to "Alice in Wonderland", as the title as well as the character namings suggests. And hence, the work also calls for some understanding of the world of Alice in Wonderland.

As a fan of Liar Game and also all things Alice, I really enjoyed this and the references it brings. Yes, there are some plot holes, there are some events and games that are coincidences that are mere plot devices. But hey, does everything have ... to make sense? "We're all mad here" anyways.

With regards to some other reviews claiming the ending is anti-climatic, doesn't make sense, and washes away 86 chapters worth of plot - I pull you back again, to Alice. What's important is the journey, the psychological transformation and resolutions Alice went through, and the strange sense of introspection and wonder it leaves you, the reader, with long after closing the book.

Goated manga tbh. Maybe it's just that I havent read that many psychological thrillers or those death game show type of works, but this one was really enticing. The stakes being so high and stressful clashes with the simplicity and childness of the games, ahh it's so good. I also love how detailed everyone gets about the strategies and intellectual twists. like in a shonen or live action show, they'd just have an ass pull or give some contrived answer but here it gets so in depth i love ittt.

Theres plenty i don't care for. The philosophy of life is fine but it gets ... overbearing and repetitive after a while. The art style,, while unique, is very noisy and at times things are hard to make out. I'm also not the biggest fan of the sexual assault stuff. ..

But this manga has this special thing where it can hit all the right notes in a huge spectacle. This author knows how to make a moment have weight and presence. There'll be times when the art, story and stakes will all come together in a beautiful way to be super striking. Yes there are parts that drag, but the key beats are delivered in spades.

Alice I'm borderlands, well the name itself can give you an idea about the manga without reading the synopsis, basically story has began when our MC transported to a weird world that sounds intresting right ? Yeah it is so you gonna keep reading to reveal that mystery and eventually you not gonna like it probably why ? Not because I didn't moreover I think that all mystery needs something big like gonna blow my mind but unfortunately the end didn't satisfied me .

Our MC here was spineless & depressed person , and yeha perhaps at some point we saw development ... at his character but still tho nothing really changed in him , I did liked the other characters more than him , there is few of em has really charisma

there is another problem here is the how the huge amount of filler and side stories among main scenario's chapters , I know someone of em related to main plot but I do think few of em were Unecessary , ain't saying this manga is bad but it's not perfect either there is plenty of other ones in this genre better than it so I guess it just overrated besides the author here tried to give the MC deep thoughts about life and death and the meaning behind both of it but I guess he over did it and we saw so how much MC can be pethetic at wrong timing .