Well Dweller Tweaks A Classic Formula To Maximum Effect

Well Dweller shares plenty of design touchstones with the likes of Tim Burton in its character design, but never feels derivative. See Pros & Cons

Well Dweller is a great modern Metroidvania, with enough fresh touches to make the classic formula feel fresh. The platforming gameplay leans naturally into the massive settings, with the kind of naturally inviting world that the best entries in the genre have. Metroidvanias have been refined and experimented with plenty over the years, with developers encouraged to reinvent the genre with unique approaches.

Well Dweller is a terrific new take on the formula, with a clever mix of platforming gameplay that uses a really clever aesthetic touch as both a combat and traversal mechanic. It speaks to the game's blend of presentation and underlying gameplay, a terrific melding of art and game design that delivers a terrific little platformer.

Well Dweller's World Is Gothic Cozy Charm At Its Best

Well Dweller takes place in a gothic-coded fairy-tale kingdom, where birds have been hunted to near extinction on the orders of an evil princess who demands their feathers for her cloak. The worldbuilding and level design expand naturally from there, with a soft but grim undertone to every setting and character the player encounters.

It's an engrossing little world that uses the game's natural exploration mechanic to its advantage, setting up a labyrinth of forest shacks, underground tunnels, and dank caves for players to explore. Players take on the role of Glimmer, the eldest sibling of a family of young birds.

After stealing food from the local hunter to feed his mother and siblings, Glimmer barely escapes the behemoth hunter that follows him home. Unfortunately, the hunter catches the rest of his family, forcing Glimmer on a quest through the woods and the spirits of the long-dead birds the hunters killed while serving the princess.

Exploring the world takes on a somber tone as a result. Glimmer's home is a skull lost in a well, and ghosts of long-dead birds float throughout the larger world. It's all done with a soft animated touch that's instantly charming.

It plays off genre conventions and a fairy-tale aesthetic to great effect, creating a sense of natural wonder and twisty terror. It's almost gothic cozy: a soft forest with secret threats and hypnotizing music that lures Glimmer (and you) in.

Well Dweller's Gameplay Tweaks Are A Great Twist On Metroidvania

What really makes Well Dweller work is its effective reinvention of combat. Early on, a matchstick serves multiple purposes for the player: the brightness of the lit flame cleverly reflects the player's health, and it also serves as a handy weapon for Glimmer. It's also Glimmer's primary early-game traversal tool, serving as a mobile springboard for the player to launch themselves off.

With the ability to summon the matchstick back with a single button press, it's an effective way to open up the world and push the player to approach each room with a sharper eye for secret paths and platforming puzzles. It's a great little traversal mechanic that encourages plenty of discovery while treading on familiar paths, a must for any Metroidvania that wants to keep players engaged.

[Well Dweller] is cute despite its gothic tones and hopeful even with its grim aesthetic

While the controls themselves can be a little sloppy at times -- platforming sections feel much more like the slightly slippery Sonic the Hedgehog than a more precise Super Mario Bros. -- the actual level design is engaging and blends well with the overall aesthetics, all rewarding exploration that feels natural with the world around it instead of manufactured moments.

Larger encounters that destroy the surrounding world break up the action at key story moments, such as the capture of Glimmer's family, and add a sudden burst of tension to a game that otherwise largely moves at the player's pace. Well Dweller is a terrific example of how modern indie developers can utilize classic formulas and still deliver something that feels wholly unique.

Metroidvanias have had a major impact on the indie gaming sphere and the larger AAA market for years. Plenty of approaches exist for this 2D adventure style. Well Dweller might be the best in a while, though. It's cute despite its gothic tones and hopeful even with its grim aesthetic. Especially for fans of classic exploration-centric gameplay, this might be one of 2026's best sleeper hits.

9.0

SR Score

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Top Critic Avg.

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Critics Rec

Story

8

Gameplay

8

Visuals

9

Audio

9

Pros

• Captivating story and game world.
• Fantastic combat that has depth.
• Great pacing throughout.