Content Warning: this article contains plot spoilers for the Netflix show Alice in Borderland.
It’s not surprising that the characters trapped in the deadly competition in Alice in Borderland tend to do horrific things to each other. These players are often forced into committing heinous acts to survive and some end up even enjoying hurting others.
The most horrendous acts from the players on the show often happen during tense moments in the life-or-death games. With a clock ticking in the background, the characters usually find themselves desperate to find ways to win the rounds, even if it means others have to die so that they could live.
Saori Shibuki Pressured A Player Into Dying
The first game viewers ever see is “Dead or Alive” and it sounds simple enough at first, but even the most intelligent characters in Alice in Borderland have a hard time trying to solve it. Shibuki doesn’t bother trying to find the right answer, though, as she confidently blurts out that the answer is obviously the door labeled “Life.”
As the only player with previous experience in the room, she thinks that she can trick others into opening the doors for her. She’s unfortunately right the first time, as she’s able to pressure a young player into opening the wrong door. This leads to the unnamed player’s death, which doesn’t bother Shibuki in the slightest. This isn’t the only horrific thing she does in the show, as fans may recall how she manipulates Chōta and almost ruins his close friendship with Arisu and Karube later on.
Ryōhei Arisu Killed The Tagger
Arisu quickly realizes that something doesn’t feel right in the game of “Tag,” but he doesn’t have enough time to think about it. When he thinks it’s safe to enter the correct room because Karube has the masked tagger under control, he’s greeted by a second tagger, who takes him by surprise.
With time running out and a bomb about to detonate, he has no choice but to fight the tagger. He likely believes during their struggle that the person behind the mask is an evil gamemaster. After he defeats and unmasks the tagger, though, he realizes that she’s just another player who was forced into the role, just like he was. His heinous act makes him feel extremely guilty, as he probably wouldn’t have harmed her like that if he knew she was just another innocent player.
Aguni Morizono Sacrificed His Teammate
Karube is one of Alice in Borderland's bravest characters who shows how fearless he can be when he volunteers to hunt down the masked shooter in the game of “Tag.” He goes with Aguni and another player as they scour each floor, formulating a plan to trap the tagger along the way.
When Aguni’s companion lures the tagger through the stairs and towards the group, he calls out to signal that he’s in the right position. Aguni doesn’t reply, however, showing Karube and audiences that he can’t be trusted. He chooses to sacrifice his companion in order to gain an unnecessary advantage over the tagger. It’s Aguni’s first selfish and horrific act on the show, but it’s unfortunately not his last.
Hatter Manipulated Hundreds Of Players
It’s chilling to think about how Hatter managed to lie to and manipulate hundreds of players. He enjoys the fame and attention that comes with being the leader of the cult-like Beach. With Aguni’s help, Hatter is able to make his members believe that only he can bring them salvation.
Hatter encourages the players to live their lives to the fullest on the Beach. Some fans may remember how twisted his rousing speech to his followers is, as he persuades them to risk their lives to collect cards by joining games for him. It becomes even more sickening when it’s revealed that Hatter made the whole thing up and he has no idea if collecting all the face cards would actually send any of them back home.
Hatter Attempted To Murder Aguni Morizono
Aguni may not be the smartest nor the most likable character in Alice in Borderland, but he knows and cares enough to see that Hatter has gone too far. A flashback shows how the Beach started out innocently enough, as Hatter had good intentions that could help players feel more grounded and hopeful in the bleak world they’re stuck in.
However, Hatter lost his way at some point and Aguni can’t stand the deceit anymore. He wants to end the Beach and tries to reason with Hatter, explaining that he has gone too far. Instead of listening to Aguni, Hatter calls him a traitor and attempts to shoot his own best friend. It’s an appalling act that thankfully backfires on Hatter, as Aguni is able to fight back and defend himself.
Shuntarō Chishiya And Hikari Kuina Used Ryōhei Arisu
There’s a hopeful moment in the show when it seems as if the fan-favorite characters – Chishiya, Kuina, Arisu, and Usagi – are all coming together to take down the Beach and escape with the face cards. Chishiya and Kuina convince Arisu to help them with their escape plan. They assure him that it’s foolproof and that all he has to do is open the safe to steal the cards.
A shocking twist shows Chishiya walking into the room with Aguni and admitting that he just wanted to trap Arisu, though. This gives Chishiya a chance to figure out the real location of the players’ cards. Kuina almost turns back to help Arisu, as she feels guilty about leaving him to die on the Beach while she leaves with Chishiya. The two of them decide that their awful betrayal is worth it, however, and walk away without looking back anyway.
Aguni Morizono Killed And Burned Players
One of Alice in Borderland's most gruesome and difficult games, the "Witch Hunt," brought out some of the characters’ worst traits, as a ticking clock pushes a guilt-ridden Aguni to command his goons to start a bloodbath. The armed players don’t hesitate to follow Aguni’s lead and start shooting everyone in sight. Bodies litter the hallways as the chaos builds to unbelievable proportions.
There’s a scene where Aguni sheds a tear, which fans later understand to be a moment when he recalls Hatter’s death. The internal turmoil and pain Aguni feels manifests in the worst way, as he refuses to listen to reason and wants his goons to kill as many Beach members as possible. He could have used his authority as the Beach’s new leader to prevent the massacre, but he chooses to incite violence and needlessly murders others.