Cover A still from season 3 of “Alice in Borderland” (Photo: Netflix)
A still from season 3 of “Alice in Borderland” (Photo: Netflix)
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From the deadly puzzles in ‘Alice in Borderland’, ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Silent Hill F’ to the mind-bending corridors of ‘Exit 8’, what is it about virtual life-and-death situations that draws us to these kinds of TV series, video games and movies?
Your heart pounds watching Ryōhei Arisu solve a twisted card game in Alice in Borderland. In Squid Game, when actor Lee Jung-jae’s character Seong Gi-hun carves an umbrella out of a cookie, you breathe a sigh of relief. You know it’s all make-believe, yet you’re completely invested. Why?
We’re all absolutely obsessed with survival stories, and there’s a fascinating reason why. These aren’t just guilty pleasures or mindless entertainment; they are a training ground for our minds, training our decision-making muscles and stress responses without any real consequences.
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Playing with death (but not really)
Above A still from season 3 of “Alice in Borderland” (Photo: Netflix)
A still from season 3 of “Alice in Borderland” (Photo: Netflix)
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There’s something deeply satisfying about watching characters navigate impossible choices and celebrate their victories as if they were our own. This “survival processing” gives us all the adrenaline of mortal peril without any actual danger. It’s like bungee jumping for your psyche—terrifying but ultimately safe.
Shows like Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game and the equally gripping Alice in Borderland are successful for this very reason, as they capitalise on this primal fascination, turning it into brutal, game-like entertainment that we simply can’t resist.
While both series place their characters in deadly contests, they appeal to different facets of our desire for survival. Squid Game acts as a stark social commentary, forcing us to confront uncomfortable questions about desperation, morality and the inherent inequalities of our world. The simplicity of its childhood games twisted into lethal challenges highlights the element of chance and the raw, often ugly, side of human nature.
In contrast, Alice in Borderland appeals to our intellect and strategic thinking. The challenges are intricate puzzles, a test of logic and teamwork under extreme pressure. When Arisu and his friends crack a complex game and live to see another day, we feel that intellectual rush too. We’re not just watching; we're mentally playing along, working out solutions alongside the characters.
When your mind becomes the battlefield
Above A still from the movie version of “Exit 8”
A still from the movie version of “Exit 8”
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The survival obsession doesn’t stop at human-versus-human contests. Sometimes, the most terrifying enemy is the one inside your head.
Take the video games Silent Hill F or the viral indie hit Exit 8. These experiences shift gears entirely, focusing on psychological dread rather than external threats. Silent Hill has always been brilliant at weaving personal trauma into its foggy, monster-filled landscapes. The new instalment, set in 1960s Japan with its theme of finding “terror in beauty”, promises fresh nightmares where survival means facing your own inner demons.
Then there’s Exit 8—a game so simple it’s genius. Escape an endlessly looping subway passage by spotting anomalies. That’s it. But this deceptively basic premise preys on our pattern recognition and perception, turning something familiar into something unsettling. The horror isn’t jump scares; it’s that creeping, disorienting dread that makes you question everything you think you know. The upcoming film adaptation looks set to expand this into a metaphor for modern life itself—suggesting our daily routines can be their own form of inescapable, repetitive prison.
Why do we keep coming back for more?
Above A still from “Squid Game” season 3
A still from “Squid Game” season 3
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What binds all these survival narratives together is something deeper: they make you feel as if one can be the master of one’s fate in an otherwise uncontrollable and chaotic world.
Be it a movie series like Alice in Borderland or a video game like Exit 8, these stories present clear objectives (terrifying though they may be) and show us that actions have direct consequences. In these carefully crafted worlds, being resourceful pays off, quick thinking can mean the difference between life and death, and the human spirit often proves indomitable.
So, the next time you find yourself riveted by a character frantically solving a riddle to avoid a grisly fate, or methodically scanning an environment for something that’s just “not quite right”, remember: you’re doing more than just binge-watching or merely playing a video game.
You’re tapping into something fundamentally human—our need to be tested, to overcome, and to find meaning in struggle. In our comfortable, predictable lives, these stories provide a vital thrill that reminds us of the resilience we all hope we possess.
Because let’s face it: deep down, we all want to know if we’ve got what it takes to survive.
Suchetana Mukhopadhyay is the Digital Content Manager for Tatler Hong Kong. In this role, she leads all digital editorial and branded content on Tatler Hong Kong’s website, from brainstorming story ideas with the writers to editing and publishing the articles, and from managing the overall content flow to driving search engine optimisation. She also leads the beauty content at Tatler Hong Kong and across the region, and is always looking to champion diversity through her articles. She was previously with Cedar Hong Kong and Gafencu, and freelanced for the South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia-Pacific, CNN and more. Contact her here.
