Squid Game vs Alice in Borderland: Which Survival Show Did It Better?

⚠️ Spoiler Alert: This article includes important details from Squid Game (Seasons 1–3) and Alice in Borderland (Seasons 1–2). If you haven’t finished them yet, be careful — spoilers ahead!

Over the past few years, two survival shows have taken the world by storm: Squid Game from South Korea and Alice in Borderland from Japan. Both shows dropped us into intense, life-or-death situations. Both asked the same big question: What would you do to survive?

Even though they belong to the same genre, they feel very different. One is emotional and slow, the other is fast and full of action. But which one did it better?

Here’s my breakdown — and my honest opinion at the end.

🎭 Story and Setting: Real World vs Another World

Squid Game takes place in a secret location, but everything feels like it could be real. Poor people join a deadly game to win prize money. The place is bright and colorful, which makes the violence feel even more disturbing.

Alice in Borderland moves us into an empty, mysterious Tokyo. One moment the world is normal — and the next, everyone is gone. The few people who remain must play games to survive. It’s a sci-fi setup with no clear answers.

👉 In my opinion, Squid Game felt more personal because the world was closer to our real life. But Alice was more creative and mysterious. It depends on what kind of story you like.

🎯 The Games: Simple vs Strategic

The games in Squid Game are based on children’s games — like Red Light, Green Light and Marbles. They’re easy to understand, but emotionally painful. You watch friends turn on each other just to stay alive.

Alice in Borderland offers a bigger mix. Games are divided into cards: hearts (emotions), spades (strength), diamonds (logic), and clubs (teamwork). Some games feel like puzzles, while others are full-on fights.

👉 To me, Alice in Borderland wins this round. The games were more challenging and gave every episode a new surprise.

👥 Characters: Who Did We Care About Most?

Squid Game’s main character, Gi-hun, is a kind but broken man. He changes a lot throughout the series — and by Season 3, he sacrifices himself to save a child. His pain feels real. The other characters — like Ali, Sae-byeok, and even Sang-woo — made a huge impact.

Alice in Borderland’s Arisu starts as a confused young man and slowly becomes a brave leader. His friendship with Chota and Karube, and later his bond with Usagi, are emotional — but not as deep as in Squid Game. Some characters like Chishiya were fan favorites, but we didn’t get to know them as much.

👉 For me, Squid Game had stronger emotional characters. I cried for them. I cared about their choices. So this round goes to Squid Game.

🧠 Themes: What Was the Show Really About?

Squid Game makes it clear: the poor are suffering, and the rich are watching. The show is a message about real-world problems — like debt, inequality, and how unfair systems can destroy people’s lives.

Alice in Borderland asks deeper, more personal questions. What is the meaning of life? Do we deserve a second chance? It’s less about society and more about your own identity and purpose.

👉 I personally connected more with Squid Game’s message. It felt more powerful because it was so real. So in this part too, Squid Game stood out to me.

🎬 Visuals: Color vs Chaos

Squid Game uses colors in a very smart way — pink guards, green tracksuits, bright playgrounds. It’s simple but haunting. You never forget the giant doll or the glass bridge.

Alice in Borderland has bigger scenes — explosions, collapsing buildings, gunfights. The city of Tokyo looks scary and beautiful at the same time.

👉 If we’re talking about looks, Alice in Borderland takes this one for me. It felt like watching a big movie.

🌍 Popularity: Which One Shook the World?

Squid Game was everywhere. It broke Netflix records, became Halloween costumes, and made headlines around the world. Even people who don’t usually watch shows like this were talking about it.

Alice in Borderland came first and built a strong fanbase. But it didn’t have the same global impact — at least not yet.

👉 No doubt here — Squid Game made a bigger impact. Everyone knew about it.

💬 My Final Thoughts: Which One Do I Pick?

This is not an easy choice. I enjoyed both shows and would recommend both to any fan of survival thrillers. But if I had to choose just one…

👉 In my opinion, Squid Game is the winner.

It had stronger emotions, more powerful themes, and characters I will never forget. It made me feel something deep. Alice in Borderland was thrilling and smart — but Squid Game broke my heart in the best way.

🗣️ What About You?

Now I want to hear from you:

Which show did you enjoy more?

Share your thoughts in the comments.