Downwell Reviews

Downwell is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Feb 22, 2019

Ojiro Fumoto’s smartly designed arcade game loses none of its appeal on Nintendo Switch, where a variety of display options and a budget price make it an essential purchase.

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7.6 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2016

Downwell is not a highly complex game nor it it contains any moral dilemma to resolve, but the charisma of its world, the ease with which it presents its controls and its tiny but constant challenges presents us with a role model for the current roguelike and arcade.

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4.5 / 5.0
Oct 29, 2015

A fantastic action-platformer with roguelike elements; Downwell is a pleasure to play. It's easy to pick up with a very high skill-ceiling. At such a low purchase-price it is hard not to recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of challenging, fast and rewarding gameplay.

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Yes
Jul 6, 2018
Beyond Dead - Downwell video thumbnail
3.5 / 5.0
Jul 7, 2018

An inexpensive time waster, but a time waster nonetheless. Still, it’s enjoyable for the short time it’ll keep your attention and it makes me crave a win. Though I also doubt I ever will gain one.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 1, 2019

Downwell's Switch port proves that, no matter the platform, it's one of the most addictive and rewarding shooter platformers out there with its price point making it feel like an absolute steal.

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9 / 10
Feb 4, 2019

Downwell finally made it to Switch and it’s found the best place to play. The Switch has done it again.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 4, 2019

Fall down in the endless pit of Downwell and don't be scared. Downwell has a simple and precise control scheme that everyone can cope with and at the same time it has dreadful challenges for professionals and people who enjoy this genre; A truly top-notch game.

Review in Persian | Read full review

Jan 31, 2019

It is simultaneously a huge amount of fun to play and one of the trickiest games to master.

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Jul 25, 2016

In summary, I spent a good 6 or so hours playing Downwell, and am happy I did so. While it’s frustrating to not have beaten the boss yet, I do recognize roguelikes aren’t known for holding player’s hands. But if I can beat Mega Satan on The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth twice, I will beat this horror at least once. I would definitely recommend Downwell highly to any fan of retro, or even any Steam user looking for a lot of bang for very little buck. Moppin has truly made a classic experience in Downwell, and I look forward to their next descent into madness!

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2019

If you’re looking for something that’s quick to pick up and put down (you know, a great mobile experience) Downwell is a great and challenging option...

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7 / 10.0
May 28, 2016

Downwell is a very fun action-packed experience that's definitely a worthwhile download for any old-school gamer.

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9 / 10
Jun 28, 2016

I had a ton of fun doing this Downwell review. I enjoyed the game on my iPhone, but the physical controls, cross-buy (buy it on PS4 and you'll get the Vita version and vice-versa) and it's full trophy count make this the definitive version of the game. Downwell is only $4.99, and it's well worth its asking price considering it has endless replay value.

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80 / 100
Oct 21, 2015

Downwell may not have the lifespan of Spelunky or Nuclear Throne, games that have continued unfolding over years for their players. But it also doesn't appear to be aiming for such heights. Its focus is as straight and unyielding as the well down which it drops you. It is fun and addictive, but moreover it's adrenaline-pumping and shocking in its barbarity.

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Jul 13, 2016

I can't say I exactly enjoy Downwell, as it's really not my kind of game, but the design and style of the game nevertheless has me playing it over and over again. It's addictive, it's charming in its retro design, and it absolutely has the "just one more go" thing about it that can turn a short play session into a marathon.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
6 / 10
May 29, 2016

There's no sense of character upgrade or progression; any improvements made are strictly to your own skill. And if you want to get far in Downwell, then you'll need to practice your skill a lot

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Digitally Downloaded
Harvard L.
Top Critic
Feb 1, 2019

I definitely don’t regret the download – even though my Switch is bloated full of titles, I can see myself always coming back to Downwell whenever I need to fill a short five to ten minutes.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2019

After years of hearing how cool Downwell is, it's great to see just how fantastic it really is. It's a straightforward, no-nonsense masterclass in design where it's super easy to sit down with the intention of playing for five minutes and walk away a dozen runs and more than an hour later. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some gun boots to fire off so I can get to the bottom of this well.

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7 / 10.0
Jan 13, 2016

A fun game that will keep your frustrated and wanting more but with short play time and quick turnaround it might be something you put down before too long.

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4.5 / 5.0
Oct 21, 2015

Downwell is a fantastic arcade game from the '80s transplanted into a modern-day computer. The pixely art style and minimal color palette reinforce its influences but the animation and number of different moving parts on screen at once are nothing 80s hardware would have been able to keep up with. The interlocking gameplay elements are far smarter than they look at first glance, teaching you how to play and get better while also not being shy about killing you dead.

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