A new 2D side-scrolling action game called Cutout is drawing comparisons to American McGee's Alice due to its dark fairytale aesthetic and unique combat mechanics. Developed by Italian studio 906 Games, the game features Lena, a character who embodies a 2D paper doll and can sever the limbs of her enemies to gain new abilities.
In Cutout, players discover Lena, described as a "child of the forest," who finds a pair of scissors and taps into her inner rage. This unleashes a quest through a grimdark fairytale world where Lena can collect and attach enemy limbs to her own body, granting her distinct powers. However, the game introduces a risk: enemies can also steal Lena's limbs and use them against her.
Beyond the limb-sniping combat, Cutout will present players with narrative choices that influence Lena's development. The trailer hints at a story where players decide whether to "claim what they denied you, or heal what they destroyed." This narrative branching, combined with the game's "spooky-cute fairytale aesthetic" and violent premise, evokes a similar feeling to American McGee's Alice, with some elements also reminiscent of Little Nightmares.
Cutout is listed as "coming soon" on Steam, and while an official release date has not yet been announced, it is available to wishlist on the platform. The game's similarities to the beloved but seemingly concluded Alice franchise position it as a potential spiritual successor for fans of dark, twisted fairytales.