There are a number of discontinued franchises that deserve another chance, andAmerican McGee’s Aliceis one of them. After releasing two games, McGee said last year that the series is dead due to lack of support from publisher Electronic Arts for the development of supposed sequels,Alice: AsylumandAlice: Otherlands. Many fans of the franchise were disappointed, but are still holding out hope for a different developer and publisher to take up the helm with the help of McGee’s design bible.
Meanwhile,Alicefans who are looking for a similar spookiness should keep an eye on theDisney-inspired narrative horrorBye Sweet Carole. From the mind ofRemotheredseries creator Chris Darril, the game features hand-drawn and painted characters and environments inspired by classic animation movies. The world is fantastical and eerie, giving people another take on the well-known Wonderland trope, which fans ofAmerican McGee’s Alicemight appreciate.
Name, developer, & publisher
Release date
2025
Platforms
PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
The story ofAlice in Wonderlandhas fascinated many people because of its portrayal of curiosity and imagination through the eyes of a young girl. Because of Alice’s bizarre encounters and the equally strange imagery in Wonderland, there has been an influx of dark interpretations, mostly tackling the possible mental deterioration of the protagonist. McGee, in particular, took this route withAliceandAlice: Madness Returns, whereWonderland represents Alice Liddell’s broken psycheborn from her traumatic experiences.
InBye Sweet Carole, young protagonist Lana Benton embarks on a magical and dangerous journey to find her missing best friend, Carole Simmons, while also uncovering the dark secrets behind Bunny Hall Orphanage. The game switches between the real world and the whimsical kingdom of Corolla, both swarming with creepy specters and tar bunnies, which Lana has to overcome with the help of her companion Mr. Baesie.
Mr. Baesie is described as a puppet-like man who accompanies Lana on her adventure. He’s also said to be playable, possibly hinting that players can control him in some levels or a co-op feature.
Unlike theAmerican McGee’s Aliceseries, which shows a clear delineation between the real world and Wonderland, the dark fantasy ofBye Sweet Caroleseems to bleed from Corolla to the real world. The “Midnight Trailer” also teases that some of the evil comes out at midnight, warning players to be careful at night. All these elements create an unnerving atmosphere for Lana, who doesn’t expect to see terrifying beings in what’s supposed to be a safe place for her, and is most definitely bewildered to show up in Corolla with magic powers.
Beyond the Wonderland-esque horrors,Bye Sweet Carole’s design pulls from many iconic Disney animated movies. The characters' wardrobe, inspired by early 1900s America, looks similar toThe Princess and The Frog,while the animal companions take notes from the likes ofSnow WhiteandCinderella. There are likely more inspirations within the game, and players will have to wait until the game comes out next year to discover them.
The unfortunate end ofAmerican McGee’s Aliceseries might have left a void in the hearts of horror game fans who have waited for a new entry to the franchise. Fortunately, many studios have been hard at work on bringing new twists to childhood favorites, just like what McGee originally set out to do.Bye Sweet Carolestands out not only because of its unique art style, but also how the game brings a fresh take to the narrative horror genre. It might not be a direct sequel to theAliceseries, but fans could appreciateAlice in Wonderland’s influenceon Lana and Carole’s story, making it a nice spiritual successor.
Alice: Madness Returns
WHERE TO PLAY
As children we were told the story of Alice, a girl who went on an amazing adventure with mischievous cats, fancy tea parties, and an extremely irritable Queen. This isn’t a fairytale. After the death of her family, Alice is now a mentally disturbed young woman. She’s gone through the morbid world of Wonderland before, and now she must descend once again to the depths of madness. The creatures are twisted, the puzzles are wicked, and the world around her is dissolving into insanity — but Alice is ready. Armed with her trusty Vorpal Blade, new magical abilities, and some kick-ass gothic dresses, Alice is a force to reckon with. Alice is not only on a quest to restore her sanity but also to discover the truth behind her family’s fiery death 11 years ago. That horrific event may not be a simple accident caused by the house cat. But is she ready to face the truth? Can her already fragile mind survive another trip down the rabbit hole?
