Alice: Madness Returns Review: Is It Worth Playing?

For fans of dark fantasy and atmospheric action-platformers, it is absolutely worth buying, especially on sale. Its greatest strengths are its uniquely grotesque and beautiful art direction, compelling story, and varied gameplay blending combat, platforming, and light puzzles. However, be prepared for some repetitive combat and occasionally frustrating platforming sections. It's a cult classic with significant flaws but an unforgettable vision that outweighs them for the right player.

A standard playthrough focusing on the main story takes approximately 12 to 15 hours. Completionists aiming to find all hidden memories, bottles, and costumes can expect to spend 18 to 22 hours. The game is divided into distinct chapters, each with its own visual theme and boss. Pacing can feel uneven, as some chapters are heavily combat-focused while others emphasize lengthy platforming sequences.

No, Alice: Madness Returns is a strictly single-player experience. There is no cooperative or competitive multiplayer mode of any kind. The game is designed as a personal, narrative-driven journey through Alice's fractured psyche. The focus is entirely on solo exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving as you uncover the story's secrets. The original 2000 game, American McGee's Alice, is also included with some digital purchases but is also single-player.

As of late 2023, the game is not available on PlayStation 4/5 or Nintendo Switch, nor is it on Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus. It is purchasable on PC (Steam, EA App, Origin), Xbox 360 (with backward compatibility on Xbox One/Series), and PlayStation 3. There are no announced plans for a re-release or remaster, though fan demand remains high. Always check official storefronts for the most current availability.

Both games explore twisted mental landscapes, but they differ greatly in tone and gameplay. Psychonauts is a humorous, collectathon platformer with an emphasis on creative psychic powers and puzzle-solving. Alice is a darker, more linear action game focused on combat with visceral weapons, a heavier narrative, and a consistently horrific aesthetic. While both involve platforming in mind-bending worlds, Alice offers a more combat-centric, mature, and visually oppressive experience compared to Psychonauts' quirky charm.