Parents' Guide to Alice in Borderland

TV Netflix Drama 2020
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Common Sense Media Review

By Ty'Kira Smalls , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Depressed gamer plays for survival in violent drama.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 8 parent reviews

age 14+

Based on 39 kid reviews

Kids say that while the show is captivating with strong character development and a compelling plot, it contains intense content that makes it unsuitable for younger viewers. Most reviewers suggest a maturity rating of 14+, citing graphic violence, sexual content, and heavy themes as reasons to exercise caution for those under that age.

  • intense content
  • strong characters
  • graphic violence
  • maturity rating
  • captivating plot
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

ALICE IN BORDERLAND follows Ryohei Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), whose got no job, no money, and no motivation- except to play video games. After an argument with his father about his directionless life, Arisu storms out to meet up with friends (Keita Machida, Yûki Morinaga) to cause chaos around Shibuya. But after hiding from police in a bathroom stall, they emerge to an empty, desolate city. Entering a building, they accidentally trigger a game to start. Good thing Arisu's good at games -- because losing this one could cost their lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 8 ):
Kids say ( 39 ):

In the "wake up one day and now you're fighting for your life" genre, this series is pretty standard. But the pacing is done well in Alice in Borderland -- it's fast but still easy to follow, and the right amount of anxiety-inducing. The puzzles are clever and entertaining to watch, and there's a slight mystery element as well. Viewers who love puzzles, dystopian action, and mystery will enjoy it, though the violence and bloodshed may be intense for younger/sensitive viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about video games versus real life. In Alice in Borderland, Arisu uses his skills built from playing video games to solve puzzles in the game. Do you think video game skills can be transferred to real life? What kind of skills?

  • How is teamwork used throughout the show? Why is it an important character trait?

TV Details

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