Alicemare

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 677 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Alicemare Game Cover
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"Alicemare is a single-player Horror Adventure game with an intriguing story, good gameplay, phenomenal visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. Players control Allen, a young boy who has lost his memory, as he investigates a rumor and uncovers the delightful yet highly emotional world of Alicemare. The game features subtle touches of horror, with a focus on exploration, storybook and fairytale elements, and memorable characters such as Allen, Letty, and Rick."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 677 reviews
story204 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and character designs that enhance the game's atmosphere.
  • Engaging story with multiple endings that encourages exploration and replayability.
  • Interesting puzzles that challenge players without being overly frustrating.
  • Some puzzles can be confusing or require outside help, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The story can feel disjointed and lacks clarity, leaving players with unanswered questions.
  • Short playtime may leave some players wanting more depth and content.
  • story506 mentions

    The story of "Alicemare" is a complex and emotionally charged narrative that intertwines elements of classic fairy tales with darker themes, exploring the lives of children in a mysterious institution. While many players appreciate the depth and creativity of the storytelling, some find it confusing and lacking clarity, often requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the plot and character backstories. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating art and music, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy story-driven games, despite some criticisms regarding its execution and coherence.

    • “This game is an extremely well put-together, enjoyable piece of storytelling.”
    • “The story is portrayed in an amazingly captivating way and is also easy to understand.”
    • “The story, the characters, and the way the fairy tales were woven into each of the children's life stories was incredible.”
    • “The game feels vague with little payoff; I've gotten all endings and most of the story is still confusing.”
    • “It sets up what could be a neat story but feels underdeveloped with its short span (the game only takes a couple of hours to 100%).”
    • “What also didn't really help the story is all the x's in the game; you see in certain parts of the story there are words that are covered in xxx, which made the story very confusing, especially in the later part of the game.”
  • music119 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its classical and orchestral elements. While some noted that the soundtrack features mostly royalty-free or previously used tracks, the compositions are generally considered fitting and immersive, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic and emotional impact. Overall, the music is a standout feature, often described as charming, relaxing, and integral to the storytelling experience.

    • “The music was very good with plenty of nice classical soundtracks to listen to.”
    • “The music is beautiful and the writing is really effective at getting you attached to characters with the little 'screentime' they've got.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is perfectly complemented by the great soundtrack, and the story is really interesting.”
    • “The music is bland and unoriginal.”
    • “Almost no original music; music used is a hit or miss.”
    • “The graphics and soundtrack were ok, but the story was so boring, I barely remember anything.”
  • graphics110 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and whimsical art style, often described as cute and reminiscent of fairytales, with a blend of eerie elements that enhance the psychological horror theme. Many reviewers appreciate the pixel art and character designs, noting that the visuals effectively complement the story's darker undertones. Overall, the aesthetic is considered a strong point, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding the simplicity of the RPG Maker graphics.

    • “The art style and environments look great.”
    • “The visuals are amazing and the storytelling is absolutely incredible.”
    • “Beautiful art style and character/setting design with an intricate plot that gives big nods to classic fairytales.”
    • “The pixel graphics are quite amateur.”
    • “Ugly pixel graphics abound, and there’s basically no gameplay.”
    • “My only complaints were that your character moves a tad too fast for my liking and it made it harder than it needed to be to navigate through narrow areas, and that the credit sequences all had extremely low resolution which made it hard to see the artwork that scrolls past with rather essential character developing story.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, primarily involving puzzle-solving and item interactions typical of RPG Maker games. While some players found enjoyment in the mechanics and story integration, others criticized the gameplay for being unpolished, repetitive, and at times frustrating, with a reliance on guides for completion. Overall, the experience varies widely, with some appreciating the charm and atmosphere, while others found it lacking depth and engagement.

    • “The gameplay consists of solving riddles and exploring your environment.”
    • “The gameplay is nice and simple; it's just pick up an object and click on another object to use that object or solve some puzzles, nothing too complex.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly composed of puzzles and riddles, some of them being fairly well-known (like that river where you have to ferry across a wolf, a sheep, and some kind of extremely rare and precious lettuce without any being eaten by their natural predator).”
    • “The gameplay is unpolished, the characters and setting are under-utilized and the pay-off for exploring and getting different endings is underwhelming.”
    • “The story is boring, the gameplay and the puzzles suck so there's not that much reason to bother with it.”
    • “If you are going to play it, just use a guide.. the gameplay itself is annoying and just seems pointless.”
  • atmosphere39 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its blend of cute art and eerie undertones, creating a unique experience that evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of classic RPG Maker titles. Reviewers appreciate the haunting yet emotionally engaging story, complemented by a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall ambiance. While some expected a more traditional horror experience, many found the game's subtle creepiness and fairy-tale themes to be captivating and enjoyable.

    • “Pretty short, but worth playing for anyone who enjoys fairytale stories that have deeper meanings and a spooky atmosphere (but don't worry, there's not much proper horror).”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is perfectly complemented by the great soundtrack, and the story is really interesting.”
    • “I, like several other reviewers, expected more of a horror atmosphere going into this game, but instead got a highly emotional story.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game gave me chills; it's dark and creepy, although the characters are cute.”
    • “But the game atmosphere (except for a select few locations) feels somewhat empty and void.”
  • emotional27 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed reactions; while some players found it deeply touching and heartwarming, leading to strong attachments to the characters and story, others felt that the emotional moments fell flat or were overshadowed by repetitive gameplay. Many reviewers appreciated the depth and unsettling nature of the narrative, with several expressing that it evoked genuine tears and emotional responses, particularly through its multiple endings. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to blend creepy elements with poignant storytelling, though some players wished for a more profound emotional connection.

    • “I, like several other reviewers, expected more of a horror atmosphere going into this game, but instead got a highly emotional story.”
    • “Uncovering the story was an experience that was just as heart-wrenching as it was heart-warming.”
    • “The story is well driven and every single ending is pretty emotional.”
  • character development17 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its beautiful and unique designs, particularly those inspired by fairy tales, which enhance the overall aesthetic and immersive experience. While the character designs are consistently described as cute and memorable, some reviewers noted that the depth of the story and character development only becomes apparent in the final act. Overall, the art and character design contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “I very much enjoyed playing this, especially how the horror theme of this game was smoothly integrated with the cutesy artwork and character development.”
    • “Any game Miwashiba makes is guaranteed to have art that's beautifully made; the character designs are some of my favorites, and the game's color scheme is very fitting for the mysterious and dreamy aspect of the game.”
    • “The character designs and art are aesthetically pleasing, and all in all, I didn’t expect this game to be as casual as it was.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “Despite the appealing character designs, the development of their personalities and backstories is disappointingly minimal.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and the opportunity to explore different choices for achievements, many feel that the short completion time and limited content diminish its long-term replay value. A few users recommend it for lore seekers, but others suggest that once the main experiences are completed, there is little incentive to revisit the game.

    • “Good replayability, t'would recommend m'lady.”
    • “It does have some replayability, as going back and doing things differently allows for different achievements.”
    • “It's a great game and the fact that there are multiple endings gives it great replay value!”
    • “Would recommend if you are looking for a 'sad game' to spend a couple of hours on -- do not expect much replayability with this one.”
    • “Overall, this is not a game that has a ton of replay value; the game itself is a short completion, and the endings can mostly be obtained by making separate save files.”
    • “I actually enjoyed it, although it doesn’t hold much replay value for me.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the reliance on riddles and the need for extensive exploration to achieve all endings. While some appreciate the challenge it presents, many feel that the repetitive nature of tasks and the necessity to reload saves can detract from the overall experience.

    • “It gets quite tedious.”
    • “Some of the walking can be tedious, but it's nothing too extreme.”
    • “It has some points where the game feels a bit tedious because it requires you to reload your saves and explore a lot through trial and error to find all of the endings.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by clever musical choices that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere, amusing hidden achievements, and playful wordplay that elicits laughter. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments and unexpected comedic elements, contributing to an overall entertaining experience.

    • “A lot of 'classical' music is used to decorate the dream worlds, and while the choices may seem arbitrary, they actually work (though the obsession with triple meter is funny).”
    • “There are a few funny hidden achievements.”
    • “They even sprinkled in some light humor here and there.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that while it has been updated for new hardware, it still requires a high-end setup to run smoothly. Performance settings are limited and primarily affect framerate, which can lead to poor performance for less experienced players who may not know how to adjust them effectively. Overall, the optimization appears to be lacking, with some users describing it as poorly executed.

    • “Great game I played way back in 2013 (it was free then, I believe, but this version is optimized for new hardware).”
    • “The game is most likely optimized like garbage, requiring a NASA-level PC or just an ultra-high-end setup.”
    • “There are a few performance settings, but all they do is limit the framerate.”
    • “I find this to be a very bad thing, as someone with lesser knowledge on settings could set the 'highest performance' setting and you're stuck with 15 frames a second.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report a high level of stability, with no glitches experienced during gameplay.

    • “I haven't encountered any glitches during my gameplay.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “I've been impressed by the overall stability; everything works as intended.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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