After three thrilling seasons of death games and jaw-dropping twists, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland has finally reached its endgame. But before we close the curtains on this wild ride, let’s look back at 10 major heartbreaking deaths that left fans emotionally wrecked.
In Alice in Borderland, death isn’t just a possibility. It’s part of the game. And while brutal deaths are expected, it’s the emotional fallout that really hits hard, especially when it involves the series’ most lovable and unforgettable characters.
The show doesn’t revolve around just one hero; multiple fan favorites stole the spotlight. Sadly, many of them met devastating ends. What makes it even more tear-jerking is that most of these characters had already proven their worth—some even choosing to sacrifice themselves, making their deaths sting even more.
Now that Alice in Borderland has officially wrapped up, here’s a rollout of names who met their fate in the Borderland—starting with the ones that shattered our hearts the most, down to the less painful goodbyes.
Disclaimer: The ranking in this article is solely based on the author’s preference and is not based on any official rankings.
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Heartbreaking Deaths in Alice in Borderland (All Seasons)
1. Daikichi Karube
Karube’s death still haunts me. He was portrayed as one of the most likable characters in Alice in Borderland. Karube’s optimistic, carefree, and the kind of friend you can always rely on. He’s that character who will always put himself on the dangerous line to save the people he cares for.
It’s quite upsetting how his death came too soon—just right when he was getting that momentum. During the Hide-and-Seek game, he struggled to survive the competition with the thought of wanting to return to his partner. But his loyalty and love for Arisu came out bigger and stronger. In the end, he sacrificed himself and let Arisu win.
What’s more devastating about his death is how he sits there—calmly, as if he already accepted his fate. Of all the deaths in the series, Karube’s the most heartbreaking and devastating one.
2. Kodai Tatta
Tatta first appeared in the second episode of Season 1 and later met Arisu and Usagi again at the Beach. He joined Arisu, Kuina, Usagi, and Niragi in the King of Clubs game. The game was all about stealing points, and Tatta was asked to remain behind to guard their base. However, he failed to protect it, which resulted in their team losing points.
To help the team, Tatta chose to cut off his arm and give it to Arisu so he could steal a point from the King of Clubs. Their team won, but Tatta unfortunately bled to death. His death had me crying for days because his character was that sunshine-like presence that made every scene feel light and easy. What devastates me the most is that he died feeling guilty for not guarding their base enough.
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3. Kazuya
During Alice in Borderland Season 3, Kazuya appears as one of the new players. Initially, he was one of the characters that irritated me the most. He’s arrogant and sometimes hostile toward his team. However, when Arisu saved his life during the Zombie vs. Human game, he turned into an ally.
He proved himself even more during the Kick the Can game when he helped all his teammates survive. He even chose to let Arisu win before himself. This game also marked his last, as he died while playing it. His death is something I didn’t really expect because outside the Borderland, he was a Yakuza member. But in the end, he chose to sacrifice himself for his team, and seeing how his fate unfolds truly shattered me.
4. Chota Segawa
Aside from Karube, Chota is also one of Arisu’s friends during the first season. But unlike Karube, he’s a slightly cowardly and gullible character. Shibuki, a girl they met in one of the games, manipulated him into thinking he was out of place in their trio.
Because of this, he became an irritating character in the early episodes. But as the Hide-and-Seek game begins, Chota redeems himself by sacrificing his life, along with Karube, to save Arisu. He even holds back Shibuki to prevent her from talking to Arisu. As he waits for his time to run out, I saw a man who loves his friends dearly—enough to put himself on the line for them.
5. Ginji Kyuma (King of Clubs)
Kyuma was the King of Clubs in Alice in Borderland. He’s one of, if not the most, remarkable characters in the series. He made his mark as the competitor who refused to wear clothes. Kyuma was successful in competing until he became responsible for the King of Clubs game. However, he and his friends met their deaths when Arisu and his teammates defeated them.
Arisu was able to trick Kyuma, which led to his points being stolen. It’s kind of dismaying to see how Kyuma fell for Arisu’s words, especially since his friends’ lives were on the line. But even after his defeat, he accepted his death gracefully and with full respect. His death left me grief-stricken because I knew how much he valued his friends.
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6. Takeru Danma (Hatter)
Hatter’s death only became heartbreaking to me after he appeared in Aguni’s hallucinations during the second season. Undeniably, Hatter is one of the smartest players in Alice in Borderland. However, his greediness and self-centeredness ultimately led to his downfall.
Aguni, his best friend and right-hand man, tried to convince him to stop the fake ruling at the Beach. But he refused, which led him to try to kill Aguni. However, Aguni was a bit faster, resulting in Hatter getting shot instead. Maybe what makes his death agonizing is the fact that he dies in his best friend’s hands. On top of that, during the last episode of Season 3, Hatter’s hat was with Aguni. However, Aguni will never remember that he was the one who killed Hatter.
7. Shirabi (King of Spades)
Shirabi holds the King of Spades card and was a powerful individual in the Borderland. He used the entire Tokyo as his arena. Arisu, together with Aguni, Ann, Usagi, Kuina, and Akane, tried to ambush Shirabi. However, the King of Spades was able to fight off all of them—almost killing them all. Aguni was able to lure him into a pharmacy where he and Arisu planned to blow up the entire establishment.
Shirabi was hurt but didn’t die immediately. His past suddenly flashed before his eyes. He was forced to kill his friend Apache, telling him that to save him, he needed to kill him. This was before he handed the gun to Aguni to finish him off. His death was not the most heartbreaking, but his past truly tugged a part of me.
8. Mira (Queen of Hearts)
I’d say Mira’s death is more of a sacrifice rather than a defeat. During a game of croquet, Mira invited Arisu and Usagi for some tea. Then she started convincing him that he and Usagi were just living in an illusion. Mira almost got Arisu by bringing up Karube and Chota.
However, Usagi managed to bring back Arisu by cutting her own wrist. This was probably the moment where Mira realized how deeply Arisu and Usagi cared for each other. She then allowed the two to win and let the laser beam kill her instead. A bold yet brave move for the Queen of Hearts.
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9. Tetsu
Probably one of the Season 3 characters that really snatched my attention since he appeared. He has this outgoing and very funny personality. His side comments and banters make every scene he’s in livelier. Maybe one thing I dislike about him is his addiction to drugs. But Tetsu is one of the most reliable teammates you can have.
During the last game, Possible Futures, Tetsu was left alone, which triggered his addiction to drugs. Due to hallucinations, he entered a room with a large point deduction, which left him with negative points—ultimately causing his death.
10. Ryuji
Ryuji is another character who appeared in the last season. He was obsessed with knowing the land of death. This is where he met Banda, who asked him to bring back Usagi to the Borderland, and in return, he’d be able to see what he was looking for. Driven by his obsession, he brought Usagi back to the Borderland, and he also became a player.
During the last episode, Ryuji was about to bring Usagi into the vortex of death when the entire Shibuya was flooded. But when he saw how Arisu struggled to save Usagi, he eventually let her go and just allowed himself to die alone. I still think that his death was heartbreaking—but then, it was his choice at the very least.
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Alice in Borderland isn’t just a survival series that keeps us on edge every game—it’s also a master of delivering agonizing heartbreaks we’ll never quite get over.
Whose death devastated you the most?
Sources: ScreenRant, Sportskeeda, Collider
