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Alice: Madness Returns similar games & best alternatives

Alice: Madness Returns

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 • 2011

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Quick resume

Alice: Madness Returns is a third-person, single-player, action adventure platformer. Visit the grim reality of Victorian London and travel to the beautiful yet ghastly Wonderland to uncover the root of Alice's madness.

Global score

91/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique and creative art style
    • Engaging dark fantasy story
    • Varied and atmospheric levels
    • Weapon upgrades and combat variety
    • Strong soundtrack and voice acting

    Cons

    • Technical bugs and crashes
    • Poor camera and lock-on system
    • Repetitive platforming and puzzles
    • Linear level design with invisible walls
    • Lack of achievements and dlc integration on steam

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Experimenting.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have control over combat style, weapon upgrades, and exploration, but the game is largely linear with fixed level progression."

    • Competence
      2

      "Combat requires some skill and strategy with different enemy weaknesses, but platforming and puzzles are relatively straightforward and repetitive."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive or multiplayer elements; focus is on single-player experience without comparison to others."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Long game with about 14-20 hours of playtime and many collectibles, but some players report boredom or frustration during extended sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no cooperative gameplay or multiplayer features."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Highly creative art design, unique dark fantasy world, weapon designs, and level themes with strong artistic direction."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of dominance or power over others; solo experience focused on personal story."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Strong escapism through immersion in a dark, surreal fantasy world reflecting psychological trauma."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some experimentation with weapon upgrades and exploration, but gameplay becomes repetitive with established routines."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Exploration of varied, imaginative levels with hidden collectibles and secrets, though limited by invisible walls and linear design."

    • Expression
      4

      "Character customization through different dresses per chapter and weapon upgrades allows player expression."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong fantasy elements with a dark, twisted Wonderland and surreal, imaginative settings."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; purely individual experience."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn enemy patterns and upgrade weapons, but limited complexity and some repetitive gameplay reduce growth opportunities."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention; some players report frustration with bugs and camera but generally not idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social interactions or relationship building; solitary gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through weapon upgrades, collectibles, and unlocking new abilities and dresses."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Art and music provide atmospheric relaxation, but repetitive gameplay and technical issues can cause frustration."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Strong sensory stimulation from unique visuals, music, and atmospheric design."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      4

      "Engaging dark narrative with psychological themes and character development, though some find it less strong than original."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Combat requires tactical use of weapons and enemy weaknesses, but platforming and puzzles are simple and repetitive."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and challenge in combat and story, but overall gameplay is predictable and can become monotonous."

    • Value
      3

      "Generally considered good value especially on sale, with substantial content and replayability."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves melee and ranged attacks with blood and gore consistent with dark themes."

    • Survival
      1

      "Combat requires avoiding damage and managing health, but no complex survival mechanics."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026