ANIMAL WELL

About

"Animal Well" is a puzzle-focused game set in a detailed, nonlinear world filled with lively creatures and secrets. The game emphasizes exploration, with items that have multiple uses and environmental interactions. Tension and suspense are prioritized over action, and players must assess their own safety in this disempowering yet clever world. The main game is just the beginning, with hidden puzzles potentially being discovered for years to come.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 21,660 reviews

gameplay750 positive mentions

grinding278 negative mentions

The atmosphere of 'Animal Well' is widely praised for its impeccable design, blending haunting visuals, immersive soundscapes, and a unique aesthetic that captivates players.
The pixel art graphics and ambient sound design are beautiful, creating a charming and atmospheric experience that enhances exploration and puzzle-solving.
The gameplay features innovative mechanics and engaging puzzles that encourage experimentation and discovery within a richly designed metroidvania framework.

Some players find the lack of guidance and occasional frustrating mechanics to be a drawback, with puzzles feeling artificially difficult due to punishing gameplay elements.
The game suffers from tedious backtracking and limited fast travel options, which can make exploration feel monotonous and frustrating.
Many reviewers express disappointment over the minimal narrative and lack of story, feeling that it detracts from the overall experience.

gameplay
2,038 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay of "Animal Well" is characterized by its innovative mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, offering a rich exploration experience within a metroidvania framework. Players appreciate the depth and creativity of the mechanics, which encourage experimentation and discovery, although some find the lack of guidance and occasional frustrating mechanics to be a drawback. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay loop, beautiful visuals, and rewarding puzzles, making it a standout title in the genre despite some criticisms regarding its execution and pacing.
- “The gameplay is engaging and well placed.”
- “The mechanics are fun and interesting, the enemies and obstacles are unique, and despite giving you no instructions I could understand everything this game was trying to communicate to me.”
- “The gameplay is unique and the world makes you pay attention to every detail.”
- “Some people will argue that this is about not liking the game being 'obtuse' - it isn't, I've unpicked the puzzles and understood what I'm supposed to do perfectly well - it's the mechanical execution which is punishingly offputtingly difficult.”
- “The puzzles are obvious and easy; any difficulty the game might have is achieved artificially through extremely punishing mechanics (accidentally press a wrong button, instead of losing one life, crows attack you until you lose all five, there's no way to escape it, and then you get sent miles back and need to trek back to where you died).”
- “Being unable to remap the keys would get a downvote on its own, but the annoying mechanics (jumping onto ephemeral erratically moving bubbles is hardly fun; with the keys given it's a chore at best), the unclear graphics, and lack of direction makes solving each puzzle a relief rather than feeling like something was accomplished.”
graphics
1,912 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The graphics of "Animal Well" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which combines retro aesthetics with modern lighting effects, creating a captivating and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique art direction, vibrant color palettes, and intricate details that enhance the overall experience, despite some critiques regarding visual clarity in certain areas. Overall, the game's visuals are described as beautiful, charming, and integral to its engaging puzzle-platforming gameplay.
- “To start with the positives: Animal Well is a beautiful game - the pixel-art graphics and reduced palette work well to evoke the setting that it's going for, and the lighting effects are subtle but brilliant (important for a game partly about light and shadow).”
- “The art style is stunning, with its soft, glowing visuals and intricate environments that make every corner of the game a delight to explore.”
- “The visuals are stunning, blending nostalgic pixel art with modern lighting, creating a vibrant and immersive atmosphere.”
- “Furthermore, in terms of graphics, this game isn't groundbreaking.”
- “My major complaint goes to the horrible graphics presentation, that is only guaranteed to give you migraines.”
- “Being unable to remap the keys would get a downvote on its own, but the annoying mechanics, the unclear graphics, and lack of direction makes solving each puzzle a relief rather than feeling like something was accomplished.”
atmosphere
1,606 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The atmosphere of "Animal Well" is widely praised for its impeccable design, blending haunting visuals, immersive soundscapes, and a unique aesthetic that captivates players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of mystery and exploration, with many describing it as both eerie and charming, creating a rich environment that encourages curiosity and discovery. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest features, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience and making it a memorable journey for players.
- “The atmosphere this game has is impeccable.”
- “Animal well is a charming and atmospheric metroidvania that has beautiful pixel art and ambient sound design.”
- “The atmosphere is thick in this game, from the wall-of-sound style music to the sample-esque sound effects.”
- “While I dig the general atmosphere and ambience, I don't find it as immersive as I thought it was going to be, due to general nitpicks like the arbitrary block-puzzles and floating platforms hanging about, gamifying the areas more than I'd like.”
- “This is sadly the way with a lot of games nowadays, they tend to think graphics and atmosphere is story, but they often fall short.”
- “The music and atmosphere isn't there, the graphics aren't stunning, the puzzles are more annoying than anything, a lot of jumps that if missed makes you have to start all over again.”
music
992 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The music in "Animal Well" is characterized by its minimalistic and atmospheric approach, often serving to enhance the game's immersive experience rather than dominate it. While some players appreciate the sparse use of music, which allows for a focus on environmental sounds and tension during key moments, others express a desire for a more robust soundtrack to accompany the gameplay. Overall, the sound design is praised for its ability to create a haunting and engaging atmosphere, complementing the game's visuals and puzzles effectively.
- “The music and sound design made my hair stand on end in the best way possible.”
- “The music is ethereal and haunting, and the sound design on top of the brings this dark but charming world to life.”
- “The atmosphere, music and visuals make for a great experience that can be scary and startling at times but it’s also very beautiful and can make you feel a bunch of different ways.”
- “The lack of story and music really didn't help keep me interested in the game.”
- “Most of the game has almost no music, at all.”
- “The somewhat lack of an OST actually fits the atmosphere of the game (what else do you expect to hear trapped in a well?) and aurally, this game's strength is in its sound design - not music.”
story
638 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting that it lacks a traditional narrative or clear objectives, relying instead on environmental storytelling and player interpretation. While some appreciate the atmospheric design and the sense of exploration, others express disappointment over the minimal plot and the vague nature of the game's lore. Overall, "Animal Well" is seen as a gameplay-focused experience that prioritizes puzzles and exploration over a cohesive story.
- “Maybe not a full on narrative story, but lore clues that lead to a deeper understanding of the world and our place in it; so we can piece together the rest from there.”
- “Wonderful storytelling through world and level design, with striking and distinct styles for each area.”
- “The narrative is subtly woven through the environment, encouraging you to piece together the story as you progress.”
- “There's barely any story.”
- “The plot is non-existent.”
- “With zero dialogue and no story, the game doesn't have a story to keep you hooked or to motivate you to explore the world more.”
grinding
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious nature, particularly due to excessive backtracking and limited fast travel options. Players often find themselves retracing their steps multiple times to collect secrets or complete puzzles, which can feel frustrating and monotonous, especially in the late game. While some enjoy the challenge of exploration, many agree that the experience is marred by the repetitive and time-consuming nature of the traversal and puzzle-solving mechanics.
- “The fun here is the puzzles, not the tedious search grind.”
- “I think this game is clearly well-designed enough that getting lost isn't a problem as I generally was able to figure out what to do after each pick-up or door unlocked, and the map is pretty easy to traverse through once you discover each area, so backtracking isn't tedious.”
- “However exploring back and forth around this large and intricately designed map is very tedious and kind of annoying.”
- “Combine this with the fact that the game contains multiple secrets and you will only have unlocked most of the tools you need to access the secrets by the end of the game means you will be doing a lot of that tedious traversal if you want to even attempt to collect all the eggs.”
- “The game is almost entirely variations of the same puzzle, key items are unique but not particularly exciting, there's a lot of tedious backtracking, and the exploration rewards are largely bland and uninteresting.”
humor
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, with many players enjoying the quirky interactions with funny animals and unexpected puzzle mechanics. Reviewers highlight moments of genuine laughter, often stemming from the game's creative design and the lighthearted atmosphere it creates, making it a refreshing experience in the metroidvania genre. While some reviews reference the influence of a popular YouTuber, the game's humor stands on its own, providing a delightful mix of fun and challenge.
- “The dozens of funny, quirky, and sometimes horrifying interactions with the animals are fantastic.”
- “I cannot count the number of times I said 'wouldn't it be funny if...' only to discover that, actually, yes, the game expects you to try that and it unlocks a secret.”
- “It's not just a game; it's an experience that touches your heart and tickles your funny bone.”
emotional
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to "Animal Well" are varied, with many players expressing feelings of nostalgia, joy, and even sadness throughout their experience. While some found the game to be a deeply moving journey that evoked tears and a sense of wonder, others felt a lack of emotional depth due to its minimal narrative and atmospheric elements. Overall, the game successfully creates a blend of wholesome and eerie moments, leaving players with a mix of satisfaction and frustration as they navigate its puzzles and secrets.
- “It is an experience that made me feel like I was 10 years old again playing a video game alone in a dark room trying to understand what the heck is going on.”
- “This game is so deeply honest, and so obviously coming from a place of passion, it's impossible not to shed a tear by the time it's over.”
- “I'm struggling to put into words the wonderful and emotional journey it took me on from the start to the game's final message.”
replayability
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it rich with secrets and multiple layers to explore, others feel that the initial discovery is where the fun lies, leading to limited replay value. Completionists and speedrunners may find more enjoyment in revisiting the game, but for many, the lack of combat and reliance on easter egg hunts can diminish the incentive to replay. Overall, the game offers a variety of experiences that can appeal to different playstyles, but its replayability may not be universally compelling.
- “Though it might be short, Animal Well is rich with replayability due to its depth of secrets and various ways to approach puzzles.”
- “The amount of secrets in this game is insane; I got to an ending, but it’s only the first layer of the story. There’s a huge amount of replay value.”
- “Animal Well scratches an itch that few games do, combining its amazing atmosphere with ingenious puzzles, tight platforming, fantastic exploration, exciting items to collect, gorgeous music, excellent worldbuilding, and tons of replayability.”
- “As far as replayability goes, I think I'm done with the game.”
- “After playing the game once, finding many (but likely not all) secrets, I don't think there is much replay value.”
- “The only downside I can come up with is that unless you're speedrunning this game, it's not likely to have much replay value.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many praising its impressive performance, quick loading times, and efficient use of storage (around 30-40 MB), showcasing the developer's technical prowess. However, some players have reported significant performance issues, indicating that the graphics backend may not be well-optimized, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game is generally regarded as a well-optimized title, particularly for a solo-developed project.
- “On top of that, this is also a technical masterclass on how to make an optimized game from scratch completely by yourself.”
- “This game is jam packed with stuff, but it's so quick and snappy and beautifully optimized.”
- “Basso also deserves credit for cramming such a game in just 30 megabytes... now that's what I call optimization!”
- “This game has significant performance issues.”
- “For one, and this is something I've seen others experience - the game is just, horribly optimized.”
- “This ain't a high-end game, it's kind of embarrassing that an otherwise well-crafted game is in this state performance-wise, man!”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with players reporting no significant bugs or glitches during their playthroughs. It runs smoothly on various platforms, including Steam Deck and Chromebook, and offers precise controls reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight and Cuphead. While some minor collision issues with NPCs were noted, these did not detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck with all settings maxed out.”
- “So far the game has been bug free, but I definitely saw some squirrels.”
- “Dunkey memes aside, this is definitely worth a purchase and props to Billy Basso for making this game solo, in his own engine, bug free (in my playthrough) and... at only 34MB.”
- “On the subject of glitches/game-breaking sections, it is technically possible to get to the final area of the game while only beating 3 of the 4 creatures.”
- “They are also buggy in collision and randomly let you enter their space without taking harm.”
- “Originally, there were some glitches, but it was fixed.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
30%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and corporate bloat, while others feel that the game could benefit from additional content. There is a sentiment that the game feels like a quick cash grab, and some reviews appear to be heavily influenced by promotional content from a popular figure, leading to disappointment among players seeking an authentic experience. Overall, the game's pricing and lack of monetization strategies have sparked discussions about supporting independent developers.
- “No microtransactions.”
- “No hustle, no advertising yourself.”
- “It feels and plays like a quick cash grab.”
- “I literally did not have the money to afford this game... gotta support independent devs and games without microtransactions while they still exist.”
- “It seems like most reviews of this game are just repeating whatever talking points Dunkey was saying whilst advertising the game, which is disappointing but ultimately to be expected.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
While the reviews highlight the impressive character design and visual aesthetics of the game, they do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the narrative. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the visual appeal rather than the evolution of characters.
- “From the character designs, the lighting, the fluid physics, to the environment, this is probably the most gorgeous pixel game I have ever played.”

Buy ANIMAL WELL

10h Median play time

14h Average play time

6-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 118 analyzed playthroughs

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