The first game is a puzzle platformer. Most of the game sees you hopping from platform to platform, weaving through complex platforming, and solving environmental puzzles. Combat exists, but it isn't much of a focus. Honestly, this is a good thing, as the combat system is a bit underdeveloped in my opinion. Late game weapons do help ameliorate the combat malaties (notably fighting any flying enemy), but early game where you have no ranged weapons, and all you have is throwing the knife, it can be annoying (especially the goddamn banshees). Late game weapons (such as the Ice Wand) are really fun to use though.

However, this is all isn't that bad, since combat never is the focus of the game. Most of the game is you exploring your environments and finding your way through the puzzles and complex levels of Wonderland. Level design is fantastic, often times feeling reminiscent of early 90s FPS level design (fitting considering the game is built on the Quake 3 engine).

The story is a fantastic delve into the character of Alice, in this game the sole survivor of a fire that overtook her house and family. I won't go too much more into it, but I will say you should read Alice's case file included with the original release. It includes extra backstory about how Alice was before the game, from the point of view of a psychiatrist at the asylum Alice was put in after the fire. IIRC, A transcription of it is online.

All in all, I love this game. Fantastic level design, fantastic story, fun weapons, and since it's on the Quake 3 engine, very easy to mod (my Alice wears a red dress).

Like ZpaceJ0cko siad, the second game is majestic. The game is a puzzle platformer, with a fun combat system. Unlike the first game, combat sees more of a focus in this game, and the weapons you have actually play a role in solving puzzles. While the ending of the first game was a bit too final in my opinion to really have a sequel, the story in Madness Returns does touch on some loose ends brought up in the first game, and it does a good job continuing the story.

The extra dresses are all pretty cool, and the DLC dresses are dope. Some have abilities that really break the balance of the game (like my favorite dress design having auto-regen health, meaning I never actually use that dress).

Madness Returns also boasts some of the best hair physics to ever grace a videogame.