The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version

About

"The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version" is a surreal, point-and-click adventure game that follows Alice as she confronts her fears in the form of mysterious characters and puzzles. The game features beautiful watercolor, ink, and pencil-drawn images and a moving soundtrack by Spanish indie-rock group vetusta morla. With 10 characters, 20 puzzles, and over 1500 art-filled illustrations, players will be immersed in Alice's strange and wonderful world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version screenshot

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

music28 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful art and a lovely soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Many players found the puzzles to be challenging and engaging, providing a rewarding experience.
The game offers a unique and surreal experience, making it enjoyable for fans of point-and-click adventures.

Controls can be wonky and spatially incorrect, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The puzzles are often obtuse and can be confusing, requiring players to rely on walkthroughs.
The game is relatively short, which some players feel does not justify its price.

music
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
34%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the contributions of the Spanish band Vetusta Morla. While the soundtrack is often described as relaxing and fitting well with the game's aesthetic, some players found it repetitive or inconsistent, and a few noted that certain music puzzles could be challenging for non-musicians. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience despite criticisms of other gameplay elements.
- “The music is fantastic and sets an ethereal but hopeful mood.”
- “I credit the beautiful art direction coupled with the great backing soundtrack to really drive the experience home.”
- “The rivers of Alice is a classic point and click game where emotions, music, and beautiful concept art are perfectly matched.”
- “Music puzzles are hard for normal people.”
- “If you are not a musician, it is difficult to identify the sounds.”
- “Some of the songs are basically just loud noise, and there is no option to turn the music off.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
28%
12%
The graphics of "The Rivers of Alice" are widely praised for their beautiful, stylized art and charming aesthetic, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's lovely soundtrack, which complements the visuals effectively. However, some players noted minor graphical errors and suggested that the game could have benefited from further enhancements, especially considering its original mobile platform.
- “This point-and-click adventure takes place in a lovely world crafted with a charming art style and displayed through a wonderful journey; I can't speak highly enough of the places you go and the things you see.”
- “Highly stylized with beautiful artwork and a lovely soundtrack, The Rivers of Alice is, as much as I hate to admit it, simply far too short for its price.”
- “The strongest selling points to me are the art style and atmosphere in which the game creates.”
- “The 2D art style of this game reminds me of a flash game I played a while back similar to this.”
- “However, those who value an emotional journey over a cohesive plot will likely be drawn to the rivers of Alice’s singular visuals and audio while a brief length and accessible difficulty level pose a welcome experience for beginners.”
- “The amount of time the developers spent designing the artwork and original soundtrack was apparent when I began playing this game.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The story in this game is largely criticized for being weak, incoherent, and almost non-existent, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals and music are praised, they do not compensate for the lack of a compelling narrative or meaningful dialogue, leaving players disappointed, especially those who expect a rich storyline in a point-and-click adventure. Overall, the game seems to prioritize puzzles over storytelling, which may appeal to some but frustrates others seeking a deeper narrative experience.
- “I personally like to enjoy these games while catching all the small details and the storylines at the same time.”
- “However, those who value an emotional journey over a cohesive plot will likely be drawn to the rivers of Alice’s singular visuals and audio while a brief length and accessible difficulty level pose a welcome experience for beginners.”
- “I wished some of the areas were longer so we could experience the music; I didn't get the story when I finished the game, which is rare, as I tend to overanalyze almost every game I play! I don't think this game is deep, but it was a lovely experience, and that's okay.”
- “The music and art were beautiful, but they just don't make up for the frustrating puzzles and lack of story.”
- “The story is also pretty non-existent.”
- “The puzzles are quite unbalanced and sometimes annoying; the plot development is weak and the idea behind the game is not well expressed.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its intriguing art style and effective soundtrack, creating a unique blend of abstract and slightly creepy elements. While some players note issues with slow animations and puzzle sluggishness, the overall ambiance is considered a strong selling point, making the experience enjoyable enough to warrant replaying despite its brevity.
- “But I love games like these; it has such a wonderful atmosphere.”
- “The strongest selling points for me are the art style and atmosphere that the game creates.”
- “They both had an atmosphere of abstract art combined with doodling, with a little bit of creepiness added to it.”
- “The game was a bit too short, but I think I'll play it again in the future just for the atmosphere.”
- “Though a little short, it's jam-packed with atmosphere, helped by the soundtrack.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is described as standard point-and-click mechanics, with some frustrating elements like glitches and resets during puzzles. While it may not offer groundbreaking gameplay innovations, it is complemented by strong design and music, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate artistic elements.
- “The gameplay is quite traditional but smart, and the design and the music are a key part of a great experience.”
- “Gameplay itself is fairly standard point and click fare.”
- “I literally spent almost 2 hours of my total 5.5 hours of gameplay on the Rubik's cube and wire puzzle, which was mostly due to the columns glitching and also due to the fact that when you exit to look at the schematic, the whole thing resets.”
- “I recommend this game, but just as a piece of art; do not expect any gameplay revelations here.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing wonky controls and confusing navigation that detracts from the experience. The difficulty in determining the next steps is frustrating rather than engaging, leading to a monotonous gameplay loop.
- “This was tedious.”
- “The controls are wonky and spatially wrong on some screens, it's difficult to figure out what to do next (and not necessarily in a good-difficult-puzzle way), and walking from screen to screen gets tedious.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has limited replayability, primarily driven by the need to complete three achievements that require a second playthrough, although two of these can be achieved during the first run with assistance.
- “There's little replayability beyond wanting the three achievements that require a second playthrough, and two of those can be completed on the first playthrough with some assistance.”
- “The game lacks significant replay value, as most of the content feels repetitive after the first run.”
- “Once you've experienced the story, there's not much incentive to go back for a second playthrough.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting that glitches hinder progress in key areas, such as the metal monster section, making it difficult or impossible to complete the game.
- “The glitches in this game made it impossible to complete the Metal Monster area.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that ruined my gameplay experience.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs that disrupt the overall stability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players who prioritize emotional experiences in games will find "Rivers of Alice" appealing due to its unique visuals and audio, despite its brief length and straightforward difficulty, making it accessible for newcomers.
- “Those who value an emotional journey over a cohesive plot will likely be drawn to the rivers of Alice's singular visuals and audio, while a brief length and accessible difficulty level pose a welcome experience for beginners.”
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
- “Every moment in the game is infused with emotion, creating a powerful narrative that resonates long after the credits roll.”