Alice’s Wonderland 3: Shackles of Time – Review

Not even a year has passed since the release of Alice’s Wonderland: Cast In Shadow, and we are already on the third installment. In Shackles of Time, Alice is grappling with her emerging adulthood while Wonderland falls for a curse and is frozen in time. Can you help Alice save her friends once again?

The first two Alice’s Wonderland games were majorly carried by their whimsical theme and fun fairy tale characters, while the novelty of these elements have worn off quite a bit, this brand-new sequel still offers a colorful fantasy experience. The core game mechanics do not differ much from other Time Management games, but creativity is pretty much present in all asepcts of the gameplay. The characters are memorable and lively, the tasks are well-integrated into the theme and the storyline, and the variety of locations definitely adds some spice to the game.

Alice’s Wonderland 3: Shackles of Time comes with 40 levels in three difficulty modes, including a relaxed mode. Playing on the Normal mode, I found the complexity of the game to be rather light, but the actual challenge level to be high. This is because the game is very particular in the order of the actions it wants you to take. Often times, if you complete tasks out of order, you might need to restart the level. Whether you view this as a positive or a negative totally depends on your gaming preference.

One thing that is less subjective is that the production in Alice’s Wonderland 3: Shackles of Time has improved from its predecessors. The quality of the graphics is sharper, the colors are richer, and the audio feels more magical. There are, of course, rooms for improvements such as character animations that still remain a little creepy.

As a Collector’s Edition, Alice’s Wonderland 3: Shackles of Time packs a whole bunch of extras. This includes 20 bonus levels, a strategy guide, wallpapers, two additional mini-games, additional achievements, collectibles that assemble into a jigsaw puzzle, and morphing objects that assemble into concept art.

Despite being the third installment released in less than a year, Alice’s Wonderland 3: Shackles of Time still feels considerably fresh and delivers plenty of fun.