Animal Well Reviews
A shimmering subterranean world reveals itself bit by bit to you, an amorphous blob, in this enchanting, intricate game
Animal Well is an atypical metroidvania that exploits many of the genre's tropes to give birth to something different, almost completely eliminating the entire action component to focus exclusively on the puzzles. The end result is a fascinating, mysterious and at times mesmerizing video game that does not end once the credits are rolling, since reaching the ending represents only a new beginning for Animal Well. As long as you really want to escape the well, of course, but why do it? It's so good down here.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Animal Well is a fantastic breakout title from both a new developer and publishing studio. Fans of Fez and Tunic will feel right at home jumping into this well.
Animal Well is a refreshing twist on the Metroidvania formula. Its tight platforming and clever puzzles make each exhilarating trek to distinct regions a blast. Although the retro-inspired art direction and odd presentation may not resonate with everyone, the originality and charm that imbues the game make this trip to the absurd a must for fans of the genre.
Animal Well is an extremely rewarding game — if you're willing to lose yourself in it. The sort of mysteries it's hiding go well beyond finding collectibles, giving you a rich and detailed world to unpack. If you have the patience and the curiosity, it's absolutely worth plumbing its depths.
Despite its litany of tricks, though, Animal Well is a relatively simple game at its core, with little in the way of an overarching mystery or narrative to push you along. And while the lack of long-term hooks sometimes makes the game feel a bit slight, the single-minded attention to the in-the-moment pleasure of the gameplay creates a focus that is meditative rather than expansive. Animal Well isn’t some grand adventure or sweeping artistic statement. It’s just a boatload of tiny interconnected puzzles, woven together to form an almost unimaginably intricate web.
The puzzles presented by Animal Well are challenging enough, but at no point do they feel impossible. The level design guides us little by little, and the way in which each challenge is solved is through experimentation. Talking about Animal Well can be a detriment to all those who wish to enter this world. My biggest recommendation is: play Animal Well. This is a magical experience that will stick in the minds of everyone who gives it a try, and I can't wait to see what the next step is for its developer.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Animal Well is a unique experience that will appeal to lovers of platformers with metroidvania elements as well as those who appreciate creative puzzles and mysterious atmospheres. The fascinating visual style, combined with a very solid game system that is easy to learn and difficult to master, make it a must-have title for those looking for an original, fun and highly replayable journey.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite its confusing fast travel system and misbehaving yo-yo, Animal Well is a bizarre yet brilliant neon-bathed adventure, characterized by tricky puzzles, intense platforming, and a host of cute animals - almost all of which are out to kill you.
Animal Well is a game that promised platforming and puzzles and has managed to absolutely nail both in execution. Platforming fans will have an enjoyable time reaching the credits and will be content to set it down while puzzle gamers will be enamored by the depth that Animal Well has been able to achieve. You won't get more satisfied by a game solving puzzles like these.
Animal Well takes the Metroidvania model and provides a challenging and satisfying experience while also cutting off all the excess fat. There's basically no story, no upgrades, no flashing fighing mechanics. It proves that you can create a fantastic game with smart puzzle and level design alone, and by giving the player the freedom to figure things out.
Overall, Animal Well is a visually striking 2D metroidvania that immerses you in a pixelated world full of mysteries.
Animal Well kept me captivated from start to finish and long after. Fans of Metroid-likes NEED to play this.
Animal Well brought a new breath to the metroidvania genre with its clever puzzles, endless mysteries, great-looking pixel design and intriguing exploration structure. Animal Well will be in the 2020s what FEZ was in the 2010s.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
If you like your games challenging, weird, beautiful, and a little unsettling, ANIMAL WELL should be on your must-play list.
A fantastic metroidvania that will be remembered for a very long time due to its originality and the amount of mystery it contains.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Even though it drops a few balls while juggling all these mechanics together, such as the boss battles. Still, ANIMAL WELL is a brilliantly put together game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost in a small but intricately designed game. I am quite convinced that both designers and players will be delving down deeper into this well over the coming years.
Animal Well is stunning and mysterious, a visual treat that offers open-ended and thought-provoking exploration. The total lack of explanations may put off part of the audience, but those who are willing to see how deep the iceberg, or rather the pit, goes, will have a lot to enjoy in this surrealist metroidvania.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I'm happy that I discovered ANIMAL WELL because its puzzle-filled world was a great deal of fun to traverse and master. Great stuff!