Well Dweller is another delightful metroidvania from Kyle Thompson, whom you might recognize as the creator of Crypt Custodian. Set in a world inspired by classic fairy tales, the game follows the rise of a cruel queen who seizes power and orders every bird in the kingdom to be stripped of its feathers.

You play as Glimmer, a seemingly unassuming little bird armed with nothing but a matchstick. Alongside his family, he takes refuge in a well to escape the queen’s cruel decree. However, when the safety of his loved ones comes under threat, Glimmer decides it’s time to stop hiding and take a stand against the wicked ruler.

Business as usual for a metroidvania.

The story is unusual and genuinely intriguing, with the game’s enchanting atmosphere and fairy tale charm shining through from the very first moments. Kyle Thompson has also done an excellent job of creating a memorable cast of diverse and interesting characters, each adding a little more personality to this peculiar world.

As you’d expect from a proper metroidvania, Well Dweller revolves around exploring an interconnected 2D world, discovering new locations, battling a wide variety of enemies, and overcoming all manner of obstacles. Along the way, you’ll also be able to improve Glimmer’s abilities and acquire new weapons, gradually expanding your options for both combat and exploration.

Well, well…

In terms of gameplay, Well Dweller is an absolute joy to play. The controls are smooth and responsive, making even the trickier platforming sections a pleasure to navigate. Right from the start, Glimmer has access to a versatile matchstick, whose flame doubles as a visual representation of his remaining health. It’s a brilliant little touch! The matchstick is also a surprisingly useful tool. You can swing it at enemies during close combat or stick it into walls to create makeshift platforms, allowing you to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. It’s a simple but wonderfully creative mechanic that adds an extra layer of depth to both combat and exploration.

I also tried playing Well Dweller with a keyboard, but the experience wasn’t quite as comfortable. The key layout felt somewhat unintuitive, so I’d strongly recommend using a controller instead. The DualSense, in particular, works exceptionally well here.

And what are you smirking at?

I had a wonderful time with Well Dweller, at least up to a certain point. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was somewhat dampened by the boss encounters, whose difficulty feels disproportionately high compared to the rest of the game, even from the very beginning. I’m not particularly fond of hardcore combat, and I generally find excessively difficult games more frustrating than rewarding.

After struggling for a while, I explored the settings and discovered an option to reduce the damage dealt by enemies. This certainly helped at first, but by the time I reached the next boss, I once again found myself facing a challenge that felt unnecessarily punishing. I’ve seen plenty of players praise Well Dweller for its accessibility, but unfortunately, I can’t entirely agree with that assessment. While the available difficulty options are appreciated, they didn’t do quite enough to make the boss encounters enjoyable for me.

Boom!

Visually, the title is simply stunning. You explore a wide variety of beautifully designed environments set against a backdrop that blends fairy-tale charm with dark, eerie undertones. Some areas look gloomy and muted, while others are vibrant and colorful, but there’s always something beautiful or intriguing to catch your eye.

The soundtrack, composed by the developer’s brother Eric, appears as a little masterpiece in its own right. It perfectly complements whatever is happening on screen. During slower moments of exploration, you listen to soothing melodies, while boss encounters bring more energetic and intense compositions. The music proves consistently excellent throughout. 

Locations and characters look absolutely fantastic.

And saying that the general sound design is wonderful would be a massive understatement. I particularly enjoyed the thunk of the matchstick being driven into a wall. Few things sound quite so satisfying! Unfortunately, the PC version of Well Dweller can suffer from occasional stuttering during more demanding moments, such as boss fights. This surprised me a little, considering how small the game is and how little strain it seems to put on the computer under normal circumstances.

Steering a bubble.

Well Dweller proves to be satisfying experience that offers far more than just a couple of short gaming sessions. It’s a substantial adventure, taking roughly a dozen or more hours to complete. Many aspects are close to perfect: the enchanting narrative, responsive gameplay mechanics, and excellent visual and audio presentation. Unfortunately, the title struggles with its difficulty balance. Boss encounters should gradually become more challenging as you progress, rather than making you want to throw in the towel almost from the very beginning. Still, no game is perfect, and this one remains thoroughly enjoyable despite this shortcoming.

Well Dweller is available now on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC, Switch and Switch 2.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of Well Dweller was provided by the publisher.