Movie tie-ins usually suck. We all know the drill: a big-budget film is coming out, some studio rushes a game into production to meet the premiere date, and the end result is a buggy, soulless mess that feels like it was coded in a weekend. But honestly, the Alice in Wonderland DS game—the one based on Tim Burton’s 2010 reimagining—is the massive exception to that rule. Developed by Étranges Libellules, this isn't some cheap 3D platformer trying to mimic a console version. It’s a bizarre, stylish, and genuinely clever Metroidvania that has more in common with The Legend of Zelda than it does with your average Disney shovelware.
If you haven't played it, you’re missing out on a weird piece of gaming history. Most people ignored it because, well, the film was polarizing and the Nintendo DS was drowning in mediocre licensed titles at the time. But if you dig it out of a bargain bin today, you’ll find a game that actually respects the source material while doing its own thing.
What Makes the Alice in Wonderland DS Game Different?
The first thing you’ll notice is the art style. It’s gorgeous. Instead of trying to replicate the "uncanny valley" CGI of the Burton film, the developers went with a stylized, almost paper-craft aesthetic. It’s moody. It’s dark. It feels like a gothic storybook come to life. The characters have these exaggerated proportions and fluid animations that make the world feel alive in a way that 3D DS games rarely achieved.
The gameplay loop is where it really gets interesting. You don’t actually play as Alice. She’s there, sure, but she’s basically an NPC you have to protect and guide. You play as the residents of Underland—the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, and the Mad Hatter.
Each character has a specific ability that you need to navigate the world. The White Rabbit can manipulate time, stopping objects or slowing down enemies. The Cheshire Cat can make objects disappear or reappear, which is used for some surprisingly tricky environmental puzzles. The March Hare has telekinesis, and the Mad Hatter can manipulate perspective.
It’s basically a co-op game you play by yourself. You’re constantly swapping between these characters to bypass traps and defeat the Red Queen’s forces. It’s smart. It’s cohesive. It actually makes sense within the logic of Wonderland.
The Genius of Character Switching
A lot of games try the "character swap" mechanic and fail because one character is inevitably better than the others. In the Alice in Wonderland DS game, you actually need them all.
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Think about the puzzles. You might come across a massive gap. You use the March Hare to pull a platform toward you. But wait, there’s a spinning blade in the way. You swap to the White Rabbit to freeze the blade, then swap back to the Hare to finish pulling the platform. It requires actual thought. It’s not just "press A to win."
The combat is equally varied. Since you aren't playing as a warrior, you have to use these weird powers to fight. Freezing an enemy in time while the March Hare chucks a piano at their head is satisfying in a way it has no right to be. It’s chaotic. It’s Wonderland.
A Metroidvania in Disguise
We don't usually associate Disney games with the Metroidvania genre, but that’s exactly what this is. The world is interconnected. You’ll see a chest or a path early on that you can’t reach. It’ll haunt you. You know you need a specific power to get there.
As you progress and unlock new abilities—or upgrade the ones you have—the map opens up. The sense of discovery is genuinely rewarding. The game rewards exploration with "chess pieces" and other collectibles that actually feel worth finding.
Why the Critics Actually Liked It
Check the old reviews from 2010. IGN gave it an 8.5. GameSpot was similarly impressed. This wasn't a case of "good for a kids' game." It was just a good game, period.
"It's one of the few movie-licensed games that feels like the developers actually cared about the final product."
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That sentiment was everywhere. The DS was a powerhouse for creative 2D games, and Étranges Libellules took full advantage of the hardware. They used the touch screen for certain puzzles without making it feel gimmicky, which was a rare feat in the mid-to-late 2000s.
The Tragic Fate of Étranges Libellules
It’s kinda sad looking back. The studio behind this, Étranges Libellules, was a French developer that had a knack for making licensed games better than they had to be. They did the Asterix & Obelix games and The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon.
They clearly had talent. But the industry shifted. The market for mid-tier licensed console and handheld games dried up as everything moved to mobile. The studio closed its doors in 2012. The Alice in Wonderland DS game remains one of their best works—a testament to what happens when a creative team is given a bit of leash with a massive IP.
Why You Should Play It in 2026
You might think a 16-year-old handheld game wouldn't hold up. You'd be wrong.
The 2D art style is timeless. Unlike early 3D games that look like a blurry mess of pixels today, the hand-drawn look of Alice still pops. If you're playing on an original DS or a 3DS, the colors are vibrant and the frame rate is surprisingly stable.
Also, it’s short. We live in an era of 100-hour open-world slogs. This is a tight, 6-to-8-hour experience. You can finish it in a weekend. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It gives you its best ideas, challenges you a bit, and then lets you go.
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Common Misconceptions
People often confuse this with the Wii or PC version of the game. Don't do that. Those versions are fine, but they are standard 3D action-adventure games. They don't have the same soul. The DS version is a completely different game with a different engine, different mechanics, and a vastly superior art style.
Another mistake? Thinking it's just for kids. While the difficulty curve is fair, some of the later puzzles and hidden secrets require some serious spatial reasoning. It’s "all ages" in the way Pixar movies are—accessible to kids, but deeply rewarding for adults.
How to Get Your Hands on a Copy
Finding the Alice in Wonderland DS game isn't too hard, but prices have been creeping up lately as people rediscover "hidden gems" for the DS.
- Check Local Retro Stores: This is the kind of game that often gets overlooked by collectors focusing on Pokémon or Zelda. You can often snag it for $15-$25.
- eBay and Mercari: Look for "DS Alice in Wonderland Tim Burton." Make sure you're getting the DS version and not the "Disney Alice in Wonderland" game based on the 1951 animated movie (which is a totally different, much older platformer).
- Check the Cartridge: As always with DS games, watch out for fakes. Luckily, movie tie-ins aren't bootlegged as often as high-value RPGs, but it's always good to check the label print quality.
If you still have a working Nintendo 3DS, the game is backward compatible. The D-pad controls are tight, and the visuals look great even with the slight upscaling of the 3DS hardware.
Actionable Next Steps for Retro Gamers
If you're looking for your next handheld fix, here is how to approach this game for the best experience.
- Skip the Manual: The game does a great job of teaching you the mechanics through play. Don't worry about reading a guide beforehand.
- Invest in a Stylus: You’ll need it. Some of the perspective-shifting puzzles with the Mad Hatter require precise touch input.
- Pay Attention to the Map: It’s a Metroidvania. If you see an area you can't reach, mark it in your mind. You will be coming back there once you have the Cheshire Cat or the Rabbit’s time powers.
- Look for the Chess Pieces: Don't just rush to the end. The collectibles in this game unlock concept art and upgrades that actually make the later combat encounters more fun.
The Alice in Wonderland DS game is a reminder of a specific time in gaming history where developers could take a massive movie license and turn it into a weird, artistic experiment. It’s not just a "good licensed game." It’s a standout title for the Nintendo DS library that deserves a spot on your shelf. Stop sleeping on it. Go find a copy, charge up your old handheld, and get lost in Underland. You won't regret it.