Wonder of Blue released on November 26, 2025, and it’s one of the most deceptive games you’ll play this year. The dainty pixel art and whimsical Alice in Wonderland aesthetic trick you into thinking you’re in for a charming, relaxing dungeon crawler. Then Liddell performs her graceful twirl dodge and you realize this is actually a demanding soulslike roguelike where one misstep sends you back to square one. It’s gorgeous, punishing, and exactly the kind of indie gem that gets lost in the avalanche of year-end releases.
What Makes It Special
Developer Velveteen built Wonder of Blue around a central mechanic that sets it apart from typical dungeon crawlers – the twirl. Liddell, your protagonist venturing into Wonderland’s procedurally generated labyrinths, doesn’t roll or dash to evade attacks. She performs an elegant spinning pirouette that grants invincibility frames while looking absolutely delightful. Hold the twirl button after completing the animation and she breaks into a sprint, letting you chain movement in satisfying ways.
This ballet-inspired dodge system creates a unique rhythm to combat. You’re weaving between enemy attacks with graceful spins, timing your strikes between twirls, and occasionally charging up a Power Cut by holding the attack button for devastating ranged damage. The whole experience feels more like a dance than traditional hack-and-slash combat, which perfectly matches the dreamlike Wonderland setting.
The Roguelike Structure
Wonder of Blue commits fully to the roguelike formula in its Wanderlust Mode. Death sends you back to the beginning of your journey with procedurally generated labyrinths ensuring no two runs are identical. Treasure chests scattered throughout each labyrinth provide passive effects and special card-based attacks that stack as you progress deeper. Some cards replenish health, others extend your invincibility frames, and a few modify your twirl distance or power cut range.
The card system creates interesting build variety despite the game’s compact scope. Do you prioritize defensive cards that extend invincibility and reduce damage, or offensive cards that increase attack range and power? Items that replenish magic points versus those that heal? Every treasure chest forces meaningful decisions, especially since inventory space is limited and you can only carry so many special items.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Velveteen |
| Release Date | November 26, 2025 |
| Genre | Dungeon Crawler Roguelike with Soulslike combat |
| Platform | PC (Steam, itch.io) |
| Price | $5.99 (currently $4.79 on sale) |
| Key Mechanic | Twirl dodge – graceful pirouette with i-frames |
| Modes | Casual Mode (retry labyrinths) and Wanderlust Mode (permadeath) |
The Challenge Factor
Make no mistake – Wonder of Blue is difficult. Even experienced players report struggling with boss patterns and getting caught by enemy projectiles. The game demands precise timing on your twirls to avoid damage, careful resource management of your magic points, and strategic use of your limited healing items. One popular YouTube playthrough shows a player admitting they haven’t figured out the boss mechanics and find the difficulty level genuinely challenging.
Thankfully, Velveteen included a Casual Mode for players who want to experience the game without the punishing permadeath. Casual Mode lets you retry labyrinths upon defeat, preserving some of your progress and making the journey more forgiving. It’s a smart inclusion that opens the game to players who love the aesthetic and combat feel but don’t want Dark Souls levels of consequence for failure.
The Wonderland Aesthetic
Where Wonder of Blue truly shines is its visual presentation. The pixel art is gorgeously detailed with a color palette that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Liddell’s animations are smooth and expressive, from her idle stance to her combat strikes to that signature twirl dodge. Enemies pulled from Alice in Wonderland lore – the White Rabbit serves as one of the bosses you’ll encounter in the depths – are creatively reinterpreted in this retro style.
The procedurally generated labyrinths manage to maintain visual coherence despite their randomized nature. Treasure chest locations shift, enemy placements change, and terrain layouts vary, but each labyrinth still feels intentionally designed rather than algorithmically assembled. Special landmarks like the White Queen’s location get marked on your minimap through certain items, providing navigation assistance without removing the exploration element.
Quality of Life Features
Despite its challenging nature, Wonder of Blue includes several quality of life features that smooth out the rougher edges. Control bindings can be remapped for both keyboard and controller, accommodating different playstyles. Items like the Olden Map reveal the layout of your current labyrinth, while the Golden Compass shows treasure chest locations and other landmarks. These aren’t handed to you – they’re rewards for exploration that meaningfully impact subsequent runs.
The game also preserves map progress across attempts in certain contexts, which players have noted feels really handy when you’re trying to navigate deeper into the labyrinths. You’re not completely starting from scratch knowledge-wise even when Wanderlust Mode sends you back to the beginning stats-wise.
The Price Point Advantage
At $5.99 regular price and currently on sale for $4.79, Wonder of Blue represents exceptional value for what it delivers. A free demo is available on both Steam and itch.io, letting you try the core mechanics and fight the White Rabbit before committing. For players who enjoyed games like Hollow Knight’s tight combat or Hades’ roguelike loop but want something more compact and focused, this hits a sweet spot.
The game doesn’t overstay its welcome or pad its runtime with filler content. It’s a concentrated dose of challenging dungeon crawling with a unique movement system and charming presentation. Solo developer Velveteen clearly prioritized polish and cohesion over scope, resulting in a game that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Who Should Play It
Wonder of Blue is perfect for players who appreciate precise, skill-based combat wrapped in delightful aesthetics. If you’re someone who can look past adorable pixel art and engage with demanding mechanics, this game rewards mastery in satisfying ways. The twirl dodge alone makes it worth trying – it’s such a fresh take on the dodge roll that’s become standard in action games.
However, if you’re looking for a relaxing, low-stakes Alice in Wonderland adventure, approach with caution even in Casual Mode. This is fundamentally a challenging game that asks you to learn patterns, manage resources carefully, and accept frequent deaths as part of the learning process. The cute exterior doesn’t change the fact that you’re playing a soulslike roguelike.
FAQs
What is Wonder of Blue?
Wonder of Blue is a dungeon crawler roguelike inspired by Alice in Wonderland, featuring soulslike combat mechanics with a unique twirl dodge system. You play as Liddell exploring procedurally generated labyrinths.
How difficult is Wonder of Blue?
The game is genuinely challenging, especially in Wanderlust Mode where death sends you back to the beginning. It demands precise timing, resource management, and pattern recognition similar to soulslike games.
Is there an easier mode?
Yes, Casual Mode allows you to retry labyrinths upon defeat and preserves more progress, making the experience less punishing while maintaining the core combat challenge.
What makes the twirl mechanic special?
Instead of a standard dodge roll, Liddell performs a graceful spinning pirouette that grants invincibility frames. Holding the button after twirling transitions into a sprint, creating fluid movement chains.
How much does Wonder of Blue cost?
The game regularly costs $5.99 on Steam and is currently on sale for $4.79. A free demo is also available on both Steam and itch.io.
Is Wonder of Blue procedurally generated?
Yes, the labyrinths are procedurally generated with shifting terrain and treasure locations on each run, though certain progress elements are preserved between attempts.
Can I remap controls?
Yes, Wonder of Blue supports full control remapping for both keyboard and controller, allowing you to customize the layout to your preference.
Who developed Wonder of Blue?
Wonder of Blue was developed and published by solo developer Velveteen, releasing on November 26, 2025.
Conclusion
Wonder of Blue is the kind of indie game that deserves way more attention than it’s getting. Releasing at the tail end of 2025 meant it got buried under holiday game releases and year-end coverage, but this is a gem worth seeking out. The twirl dodge mechanic alone makes it memorable – it’s one of those simple ideas executed so well you wonder why more games haven’t tried it. Combined with gorgeous pixel art, tight combat, meaningful roguelike progression, and an unbeatable price point, Wonder of Blue delivers exactly what it promises: a dainty, dreamlike dungeon crawler that will absolutely kick your butt if you underestimate it. Download the free demo, experience that satisfying twirl, and prepare to fall down Velveteen’s challenging, charming rabbit hole.