--- title: "Tech Talk Game Review of Alice: Madness Returns" description: "Do you like scary movies? If you do, keep on coming, have we a doozy of a game for you today. John Konecsni reviews Alice: Madness Returns, including a discussion of how it earned its ESRB rating." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/06/06/tech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns#) [MEDIA](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) # Tech Talk Game Review of Alice: Madness Returns Jun 6, 2015 7:00:35 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![tech talk redesign](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tech-talk-redesign-550x260-22.png?width=550&height=260&name=tech-talk-redesign-550x260-22.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tech-talk-redesign-78.png) Do you like scary movies? If you do, keep on coming, have we a doozy of a game for you today. *[![Alice Madness Returns](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Alice-Madness-Returns-285x400.jpg?width=285&height=400&name=Alice-Madness-Returns-285x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Alice-Madness-Returns.jpg)* #### Title *Alice: Madness Returns* #### Genre Action/ Adventure platformer #### Platform PC, Xbox 360, PS3 #### Story Alice Liddel, of Wonderland, has had some problems since her family died in a house fire. This has broken her mind, and Wonderland as well, which has become a steampunk nightmare, awash with Lovecraftian horrors and monstrosities. In order to fully regain her sanity, she must fight through the nightmare realm that was once a marvel, and reclaim her memories. She will once and for all figure out how her family died, and why. Or she'll go crazy trying. #### Mechanics One of the simplier mechanics as far as games go. There are two types of ranged weapons, a teapot cannon and a pepper grinder. The melee weapons include a hobbyhorse to smash blocks and blockades, and a butcher knife they call "the vorpal blade." Alice can upgrade these with teeth found throughout the game. The majority of this game consists of puzzles, navigating a variety of hazards and platforms, all the while leaping, floating, and double-jumping. Alice can become smaller with the touch of a button, turning on a sort of small vision. #### Gameplay Yikes, this was tough at times. This required a level of strategy I haven't had to use since the Batman Arkham games. There is an assortment of creatures as adversaries along the way. By the end, I was taking on half a dozen assailants or more at a time, of various and sundry types, needing to be taken out in a variety of ways. It was a trying, but rewarding effort. #### Music/Graphics The art design and graphics are beautiful. Alice is wonderfully rendered, as are most of the sets. The music was ... forgettable, really. #### Morals/Appropriateness Ye gods and little fishes, run! Just run! This is a creepy little nightmare all around. Let's ignore the fights, which can leave body parts all over the place (the blood is an oil-like substance, indicating that these abominations have no resemblance to humans). There are the doll-like characters with bloody wounds and pieces hanging out that gave me the creeps. Let's not even talk about some of the inappropriate visuals. Then again, this is late 1800s, Dickensian London, complete with references to prostitution. We won't even GO into the four-letter words strewn around in the dialogue. The *real* problem comes at the end of the game. SPOILER FOR THE PLOT: the final revelation is that the house fire that killed Alice's family was started by an arsonist, an arsonist that she witnessed coming out of her sister's room before the house was set alight. Yes, they went into rape territory. #### Community/Multiplayer None. #### Addiction Danger There is no addiction danger here. Playing for too long makes it feel like work. By the end, I just wanted the game to be over. I believe there were five levels, and it felt too long. #### Problems/Ending Comments The game is solid, but too much work for the payoff. By the end of the day, you were happy you got the complete story, even if the complete story was somewhat distasteful. **The content makes me not recommend it to anyone here.** **ESRB Rating:   [M For Mature](http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=30864&Title=Alice%3A%20Madness%20Returns&searchkeyword=Alice%3A%20Madness%20Returns). **Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence **My Rating:** 7/10.  A good game, but I wouldn't give it to anyone but a gamer who really, really likes his platforming puzzles. *Copyright 2015 John Konecsni*   ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F06%2F06%2Ftech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F06%2F06%2Ftech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F06%2F06%2Ftech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Tech%20Talk%20Game%20Review%20of%20Alice%3A%20Madness%20Returns) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F06%2F06%2Ftech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F06%2F06%2Ftech-talk-game-review-of-alice-madness-returns%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Game Review: Tomb Raider Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/07/05/game-review-tomb-raider) [ Independent Recording Artist Danielle Kneipp Releases New Album Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/16/independent-recording-artist-danielle-kneipp-releases-new-album) [ Telling the Easter story with Resurrection Story Stones Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/04/25/telling-easter-story-resurrection-story-stones) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.