Well Dweller Reviews
Well Dweller is a fantastic traditional metroidvania, with incredibly well-designed challenges supplemented by a perky and upbeat dark fairytale.
A charmingly gothic riff on the Metroidvania genre, Well Dweller is a terrific expansion of the genre that has enough unique touches to stand out.
With a dark — yet hopeful — fairy tale narrative and excellent level design, Well Dweller might not reinvent Metroidvanias, but it confidently plays the genre’s greatest hits, adding its own engaging spin. It’s so good that even this platformer-challenged gamer had a great time.
Well Dweller is a must-play for fans of Metroidvania games. If you are like me and tired of digging through all the crap out there to find a great adventure, you can stop here.
A dark fairy tale with a charming little hero, unsettling enemies, and plenty of surprises, Well Dweller is a fun adventure for anyone who likes their platformers with a twisted side. With its haunting atmosphere, challenging metroidvania gameplay, and a story about a little bird willing to face a dangerous world to save his family, there's plenty here to keep you hooked.
Well Dweller from developer Kyle Thompson is a spectacularly dark and wonderful Metroidvania action-adventure. It does nearly everything right to keep the game interesting and engaging without too much pomp and circumstance along the way.
Well Dweller's simplistic approach to the metroidvania genre creates a neutral void that the Kyle Thompson adventure ultimately lingers in. On one hand, it's beginner friendly and won't deter gamers not hungry for a Soulslike challenge, while on the other, it's simply not bold enough to break new ground within the genre. Well Dweller remains an enjoyable folk tale romp that, for anyone looking to take a chance on a metroidvania, is safe as houses.
Well Dweller does not wholly transform the Metroidvania genre. It undeniably features a deliciously rendered storybook world with a grim underbelly. However, some basic combat also makes it apparent that there are places where the game could have felt significantly more special. This genre is a hard nut to crack and with so many entrants year after year, it becomes increasingly challenging to differentiate from the pack. But in many ways, Kyle Thompson succeeded. And as this talented solo developer’s journey continues, I’m sure all the lessons learned will deliver something truly different and masterful.
Well Dweller does not need to reinvent the Metroidvania to succeed. Its exploration follows a familiar shape, and a few demanding movement sections could feel better. What stayed with me after finishing was its sense of progression: the next ability made me curious about the map, and the next boss made me eager to put what I had learned to use.
To me, this game is a surprise hidden gem. Everything fits together so well (pun intended). In a stacked year full of strong titles, this is another contender for my favorites of 2026.
Will you be able to burn down the wicked queen and bring back peace to the land?
Like the duo's previous games, Well Dweller is a polished take on the genre that understands what makes Metroidvanias enjoyable without overcomplicating the formula. Fans of the genre should find plenty to like, and the Thompson brothers have once again delivered a strong entry in their growing catalog.
Not every metroidvania has to be frustratingly difficult; we need games like Well Dweller that manage to appeal to everyone. It tells a great story through equally great presentation, with a cast of incredibly lovable characters, while making excellent use of metroidvania mechanics.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
A darker take on the metroidvania formula, Well Dweller combines quirky humour, rewarding exploration, smooth movement, and helpful tools to make completion far less cryptic than most in the genre.
Polished, fun, and artistically immaculate: Well Dweller is an excellent Metroidvania, held back by its lackluster longevity and a low level of challenge.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Well Dweller masterfully blends dark fantasy with fable, and its exquisite level design, combined with simple yet captivating combat, is sure to win over any Metroidvania fan in no time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I had a superb time with Well Dweller and if you enjoy Metroidvanias, I'm sure you will, too, even if it isn't particularly revolutionary. ⛺
Well Dweller is Kyle Thompson's best game yet. Consistently seeing his Metroidvanias evolve through gameplay and level design, Well Dweller feels like a culmination of every other Thompson game thus far and is a thoroughly enjoyable time for it. Whilst the story this time around is left to be desired, this distinct take on puzzle platforming meets Metroidvania make for a fantastic game.
Well Dweller delivers an enjoyable indie experience that blends exploration, combat, and narrative, without attempting to reinvent Metroidvania games. What I liked most is its beautifully artistic world, impactful characters and story, alongside standout boss encounters and innovative gameplay ideas—specifically the mechanics involving the matchstick. As a fan of Hollow Knight, I found that the game possesses its own distinct identity, despite my wish for broader exploration and greater variety among regular enemies. In the end, I consider Well Dweller to be one of the most beautiful indie experiences I have played this year, and it is well worth playing for all fans of the genre, thanks to its distinct world, enjoyable gameplay, and attention to detail.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
I came in expecting to enjoy another Kyle Thompson game. I came away loving the art, the movement, the combat, and especially how naturally the adventure keeps opening up. Well Dweller is one of the best metroidvanias of the year, and playing through Game Pass gave me a fantastic reason to keep reaching for the ROG Xbox Ally X.