If Lewis Carroll had traded his quill for a game dev kit, the result might have been Across the Wonderlands. Developed by Covenant.dev, this peculiar gem is as delightfully bizarre as a white rabbit with a schedule to keep – and every bit as captivating.
From the moment you dive in, Across the Wonderlands wraps you in its unapologetic oddness, flinging you into a kaleidoscopic realm of floating islands, magical briefcases, and an inventory where everything, and I do mean everything, is either edible, throwable, or smashable.
Found a rock? Smash it. Found a cupcake? Chuck it. Found a cupcake-shaped rock? You’re about to experience the delicious chaos that makes this game shine.
At its heart, Across the Wonderlands is a survival-crafting adventure, but don’t expect to find dreary crafting stations or pages of tedious recipes. Instead, you’re given free rein to experiment.
Combine materials on the fly to whip up hilarious projectiles, boost your stats or enrage an unsuspecting slug monster.
And then there’s your “Briefbase.” More than just a portable storage solution, it’s your home, crafting HQ, and cosy respite from slug-related stress.
Want to take a break? Pop into your magical briefcase to plant candy trees or build a fan for flying. It’s unbelievably fun and imaginative.
Combat, meanwhile, trades gritty realism for a whimsical food fight of epic proportions. Armed with a mushroom mace, a slingshot full of sticky honey jars, and a never-ending supply of edible weapons, you’ll face a menagerie of quirky creatures.
Each enemy has its own ridiculous reactions – spicy attacks might send them into a rage, while sugary ones leave them stunned. It’s strategic chaos with a generous side of absurdity.
The world is pure Wonderland, a surreal tapestry of whimsy that feels alive and brimming with possibility. Thanks to the Briefbase, exploration is intuitive and seamless.
There’s no need to backtrack to a static home base constantly. Everything you need is with you, ready for crafting, upgrading, and diving back into adventure at a moment’s notice.
And then there’s the demo, which is, like Wonderland itself, odd in the very best ways. It’s not just a sandbox but a playground for creativity.
Whether you’re exploring or challenging the hilariously disgusting cosmic slug king, every moment is packed with surprises. Add in the promise of co-op play and full modding support in the full release, and the potential here feels as limitless as the Queen of Hearts’ appetite for drama.
Sure, the demo has its quirks. Some of the animations need work, and the game definitely feels like a demo. Also, a bit of balancing wouldn’t go amiss. But let’s be honest—if the idea of hurling cupcakes at interdimensional monsters doesn’t sell you, what will?
BOTTOM LINE:
Across the Wonderlands isn’t just a game; it’s a love letter to the absurd, a crafting adventure that dares you to embrace chaos and lose yourself in a world where mushroom maces and magical briefcases are the norm. It’s whimsical, weird, and wonderfully addictive – just like Wonderland should be.