Stored game record
Well Dweller
Well Dweller is a dark fairy-tale metroidvania, full of charming characters living in a wretched kingdom. Play as Glimmer - a tiny bird armed with a matchstick - who must burn the wicked queen to save his family.
- Kyle Thompson
Platform scores
| Platform | Metascore | Userscore |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | 89 | 8.6 |
| PC | 89 | 8.6 |
| PlayStation 5 | 86 | 9.2 |
| Xbox One | Not stored | Not stored |
| Xbox Series X | 86 | 9.3 |
What players said
Praise
- Well Dweller me ha sorprendido muchísimo. Su apartado artístico 2D, prácticamente dibujado a mano, junto a una ambientación oscura con pequeños toques de humor e inocencia, le da una personalidad increíble. La historia es probablemente lo mejor. Me encanta cómo utiliza elementos cotidianos como una casa de muñecas, un hotel o un cazador para crear situaciones que, vistas desde la perspectiva de sus protagonistas, parecen inocentes, pero esconden algo mucho más oscuro. El gameplay es muy cómodo y divertido, especialmente por cómo utiliza el escenario. Llegar a pelear con una cerilla o utilizarla como trampolín demuestra la creatividad del juego. Lo único que le reprocho es la dificultad. Incluso en difícil me ha parecido un metroidvania bastante fácil. Eso sí, precisamente por eso lo recomendaría muchísimo a alguien que quiera empezar en el género. Me ha durado unas 8 horas haciendo el 100% y consiguiendo los dos finales. Una experiencia muy recomendable por su ambientación, historia y
- It's one of the best Metroids I've ever played and it has a beautiful art that feels amazing how this whole game is made by one person it's impossible the music is beautiful it's pretty cool The abilities are creative The gameplay is addictive it's just like dead cells excitement in combat There are always puzzles that makes you think for a while and some time challenges That doesn't make me feel bore of repetition and there's a comedy Dialogues Thanks for reading
- This Game Is A 10 Hollow Knight Meets Salt And Sanctuary The Perfect Metroid Vana With Great Combat This Game Has Earned GOTY 10
Criticism
- Nothing is really wrong with this game, but its an easy 10 hours. Combat only gets more simple, as all the trinkets you can hoard just give passives (never anything to make combat more interesting). The Map reveals too much, and halfway through it does get a little boring
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What critics said
Praise
- For those who are already fans of Sheepo, Islets, or Crypt Custodian, Well Dweller is a premier and autumnal treat. For anybody new to the Thompson metroidvania-verse, this is a great place to start – Islets is probably still my favorite, but I think the additional refinement and scope of Well Dweller makes it the most compelling overall package. While so many lesser metroidvanias grope for the buzz-mechanics – parries, difficulty, po-faced seriousness – Well Dweller proves that, if we peel back the pretension and the anxiety of influence, there is nothing quite like pure search action.
- Well Dweller is a great-looking and charming metroidvania that emphasizes exploration over punishing difficulty. Its combat can become repetitive and the bosses may be too gentle for genre veterans, but Glimmer’s clever matchstick mechanics and smooth movement make getting lost withg this plucky bird surprisingly enjoyable.
- 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.