Well Dweller [REVIEW] – A Finely-Crafted Metroidvania Fairytale

Fresh Metroidvania titles hit so regularly these days that it’s really hard to stand out in the crowd, and I’ll admit that, even as a fan of the genre, it’s easy for me to just ignore some releases because there’s too little to differentiate them from everything else. However, Well Dweller instantly piqued my interest from the moment I saw it – especially since it was coming from the developer of Crypt Custodian, which I really enjoyed. And you know what? It’s bloody brilliant.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Well Dweller is set in a grim, storybook world ruled by a deeply vain Queen who has a nasty habit of turning small animals into high-end fashion. Yeah, easy to hate almost immediately, right? Because of this, almost all of the birds in the land have been wiped out, so it makes sense that Glimmer – the main character who just so happens to be a bird – suffers from a bit of anxiety and apprehension. When forced to leave home to scavenge for food at a nearby cabin alongside their younger siblings, things go horribly wrong, sending Glimmer on a journey to try and rescue them. It’s a bit of a dark setup on paper (and the game’s distinct visuals certainly play into that), but it’s certainly engaging and easy to root for Glimmer, whilst the quirky sense of humour within the world and eccentric creatures you encounter throughout it all add to the charm.

It means that the storytelling is a real strength and certainly a highlight of Well Dweller, but it’s in its Metroidvania-style gameplay that it shines. Glimmer is armed with a simple matchstick (that doubles as a surprisingly robust tool), with combat that is fast and intuitive, relying on quick melee strikes, a downward pogo attack for breaking through platforms, and a nifty slide mechanic that gives you a split second of invincibility when evading enemy attacks. You also get access to Oil Vials that provide a tightly timed healing boost and temporarily power up your matchstick, alongside a rechargeable homing attack… yeah, the combat toolkit is not overly complicated and will feel familiar to many, but it’s just perfectly implemented to make sure that each showdown with enemies is fun and satisfying. I’ve played a lot of releases in the genre that often complicate things with overly convoluted mechanics, but Well Dweller manages to simply perfect the basics, and it makes for a really good time.

“Well Dweller is simply wonderful, with its gorgeously grim world, satisfying platforming and combat, and accessible approach making it a real treat for Metroidvania fans.”

Traversal throughout the world is equally rewarding, with fantastic platforming and level design finely crafted to make sure each area is a treat to get through – especially as you unlock new abilities along the way. It’ll never stopped being satisfying to launch your matchstick into a wall to use as a makeshift springboard, but the other moves at your disposal keep things varied and challenging too. It’s just nice to see your capabilities expand as you progress, and whilst conventional platforming hallmarks such as wall jumping also play into it, some of the other ideas within Well Dweller help the platforming feel distinct.

I think one of the game’s greatest strengths is how it never feels overwhelming. The map is large and there’s plenty to discover, but between perks like an abundance of fast travel locations and the handy map markers to point you towards your next objective, it never feels like… too much. I know that’s a little vague, but I’ve played plenty of Metroidvania titles where the large interconnected world can leave me feeling directionless and a little stressed when playing – Well Dweller carries all of the strengths of the genre perfectly, but without ever making me feel that way. I was a big fan.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Well Dweller just gets so much right. The bosses are great, the difficulty curve is balanced (maybe a little easy at times but there are multiple difficulty options in place), the world design is fantastic… it gets so much right. It also just so happens to look absolutely stunning, like a Grimm fairytale brought to life. The enemy designs are grotesque yet charming, almost matching the gothic fairy-tale vibe perfectly, whilst the characters – including Glimmer and his family – look wonderful, with each feeling like they belong in this dark yet alluring world.

Developer: Kyle Thompson
Publisher: Kyle Thompson, Top Hat Studios
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/Well_Dweller/