Downwell Reviews
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
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.
Downwell is a very fun action-packed experience that's definitely a worthwhile download for any old-school gamer.
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.
Unless Lassie's got our back, then we'd never normally want to get lost down a well – but Downwell is a strong exception. This fun little freefallin' title ties you up in its gun-boot antics, and is difficult to put down once you casually drop in. The action's perhaps better suited to vertical screens, and it can be a bit obtuse – but for the price of a Big Mac, this is one deadly descent that deserves your tuppence.
A weird hybrid of downward-scrolling shoot 'em up and platformer, Downwell is a challenging, but highly addictive arcade game that's a great test of your concentration and reflexes. Its gameplay does lack variety, but when played in short bursts, it's a lot of fun.
A frenzied pace, a deep gameplay and a high level of difficulty: these are the ingredients of Downwell, a solid and billiant videogame, which is still unable to get completely rid of its mobile origins, though.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The action is entertaining, but the incentive to complete run after run isn't there
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It is simultaneously a huge amount of fun to play and one of the trickiest games to master.
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.
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.
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.
For the price of a cup of coffee it’s hard to deny that Downwell is a great addition to the Switch’s ever growing library of popular indie titles. Downwell has been around since 2015 but this version on Nintendo’s console feels like a fresh addition to the roster.
There is no better feeling than leaping off a platform and, for what seems like several seconds, not getting stopped by the level's geometry and managing to dodge the oncoming wave of bats, ghosts, and wall crawlers.
Downwell is an unique take on the shoot em' up and roguelike genres that is sure to keep you coming back.
Downwell manages to blend simplicity with hidden, challenging depths to create a unique take on the platform and shoot 'em up genres that is hard to resist from the moment you first jump into that well. It may not have the lifespan of similar titles, and it occasionally feels a little cheap in later stages, but that doesn't stop it from being a highly enjoyable descent.
Downwell is a simple and fun 2D platformer. Its unique gameplay makes it fast-paced and challenging, and its roguelike qualities keep it from growing bland or frustrating. Spend a little time with this game and you may get hooked too.
Downwell truly feels like a classic NES game both in aesthetics and in difficulty, which paired with incredibly addictive gameplay makes the under $5 Downwell at least worth giving a try.
Challenging, accessible and engaging. Downwell is a focused action-platformer done well.