The Bottom of the Well

About

The Bottom of the Well is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Red Nettle Studio and was released on March 3, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

In The Bottom of the Well, you play as Alice who has just had an unsettingly life-like dream about the end of the world. She retells her experience to her friend in a huge, branching narrative. Although a single play-through might take as little as 20 minutes, experiencing all the possible paths Alice can take through the ruins of her city will take you many hours.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 438 reviews

story85 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

The music and atmosphere are captivating, enhancing the overall experience.
The story is intriguing and well-written, with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
The unique RPG mechanics allow players to customize the protagonist, adding depth to the gameplay.

The game can feel repetitive, as players may need to replay it multiple times to achieve different endings.
There are occasional bugs and issues with the UI, such as the skip function not working as intended.
Some players may find the lack of a save feature frustrating, as it requires starting over after each playthrough.

story
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The game's story is a compelling blend of visual novel and interactive decision-making, featuring a personal narrative that unfolds through choices made by the player. Set against a backdrop of a nuclear apocalypse, the plot is rich with branching paths and multiple endings, allowing for significant replayability. While the writing and atmosphere are praised, some players noted that the story can feel repetitive or lacking depth at times, yet overall, it is considered engaging and worth exploring, especially given its free availability.
- “The story feels personal.”
- “A fascinating and immersive story, totally worth playing since it's free anyway.”
- “The story is engaging, the dialogues are funny, and the music is a bonus.”
- “Overall, it's a story-driven game mainly told in writing form, with no voice acting or anything of the sort.”
- “The story is well presented, but lacks depth and is short, which is to be expected from a free version.”
- “The story is presented as someone retelling a dream they had to another person, so any tension or sense of urgency that might have existed from your choices aren't there.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and emotional depth, often described as haunting and fitting perfectly with the narrative. While many players appreciate the minimalistic piano tracks that enhance the game's tone, some note that the limited number of songs can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite its simplicity.
- “The music is perfectly fitting for the story.”
- “The music isn’t just background noise; it carries the emotional weight of the story.”
- “Monochromatic drawings combined with haunting, sparse music create a melancholic vibe which corresponds well with the story.”
- “The music is decent, all piano, but there's very few songs and it can get irritating after a while, especially after multiple playthroughs.”
- “The music is pretty repetitive but more atmospheric than annoying.”
- “The game only features about two songs in its soundtrack, but this is natural for the game's length, size, and price (free!).”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist yet striking art style, primarily utilizing a black, white, and red color palette that effectively complements its post-apocalyptic theme. While some reviewers noted the simplicity and limited number of visuals, many appreciated how the artwork enhances the narrative and overall atmosphere, making it a fitting choice for a free visual novel. Overall, the graphics are described as serviceable and aesthetically pleasing, contributing positively to the storytelling experience.
- “The art style has a very unique theme; the characters all feel very real, especially Alice and the Mad Hatter.”
- “The graphics in the game are very stylized, opting for a black, white, and occasional red motif.”
- “The simple post-apocalyptic world and visuals were just what was needed, and the music just added to the tension of the story.”
- “The graphics are minimal, audio is one sound looping over and over, and a playthrough only lasts about 20 minutes.”
- “I also wish the background graphics were a little better.”
- “Graphics aren't the best, but they complement the format and characters of the game nicely enough.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
35%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its depth and effectiveness, with many reviewers highlighting the combination of haunting music, strong writing, and a sense of mystery that enhances the narrative experience. Players appreciate the immersive and introspective qualities, noting that the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment, despite some gameplay flaws. Overall, the game successfully creates a gripping and eerie ambiance that captivates players throughout their journey.
- “The atmosphere, the piano music, and the existential questions it raises all make it memorable.”
- “The story, the art, the writing, the atmosphere: all of it just works.”
- “The bottom of the well does a great job setting up atmosphere despite its limited tools; the tone of the writing, the music, the art - it's all admirably done.”
- “The sureal atmosphere is thick in a way that's hard to describe precisely, but which should grip you throughout many frustrating dead ends this game has to offer.”
- “There's also pleasant minor piano music in the background, finishing off a pessimistic atmosphere.”
- “Many ways to end the story, very creepy atmosphere.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The gameplay is primarily centered around branching choices and RPG mechanics, allowing players to customize the protagonist, Alice, and influence the narrative through decision-making. While some players appreciate the intriguing mechanics and visual novel elements, others criticize the slow pace, unclear mechanics, and subpar writing. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of interactive storytelling and character customization, though it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or polished dialogue.
- “The game features a unique RPG mechanic, where before each playthrough, you're given the opportunity to allocate points to certain traits of the game's protagonist, Alice.”
- “The gameplay revolves around branching choices, providing a solid story with numerous variables and sequences that offer hours of gameplay.”
- “The bottom of the well is an awesome choose-your-own-adventure type game with several added mechanics including character stats/archetypes and inventory for more levels of depth.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “The gameplay is soooooooooooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooooooooooow.... gave up after 10 minutes :(”
- “Also, the chat-window text was overlapping itself to the point that I wasn't sure whose words were whose, and that's a huge turn off - a game that focuses on reading and text-based gameplay shouldn't be hard to read.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The game offers significant replayability, with players able to explore multiple endings and make various choices that impact the narrative. Despite its short length, many users found it engaging enough to warrant several playthroughs, especially given its free availability. The combination of an interesting story and interactive elements enhances the overall replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for those willing to revisit it.
- “Overall, I love the story concept and the depth of replay value they were going for.”
- “However, it does have a lot of replay value as you can keep getting different endings, and the story that you're playing is interesting.”
- “While each individual playthrough is pretty short, there is tons of replayability based on the different decisions you make.”
- “However, it does have a lot of replay value as you can keep getting different endings, and the story that you're playing is interesting - playing your way through doesn't really take long though.”
- “I found it strangely addicting despite the fact that a large part of it is just reading text and occasionally making a choice, but the ability to take different paths and try something a bit different made the game largely replayable.”
- “'The Bottom of the Well' is a well-designed game from how the music creates tension to the narrative design on how unique its multiple storylines are, each ending different from the last, making replayability more worthwhile as you come closer to the understanding of characters and why everything is there.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is marred by a number of bugs, particularly in the menu and inventory systems, which can disrupt the user experience. While the story remains mostly consistent and bug-free, the clunky interface detracts from gameplay, suggesting that improvements in stability could enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The story is generally consistent and bug-free.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it rarely crashes.”
- “The game is buggy, at least when it comes down to the inventory system.”
- “The extremely buggy UI got me out of the experience several times.”
- “At least as of right now, however, the game portion is moderately buggy.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, as it often requires repetitive clicking to progress through text and scenes. Fully exploring different narrative branches can lead to frustration, as players must revisit prior scenes multiple times to uncover all outcomes, often necessitating the use of walkthroughs to avoid excessive repetition. Additionally, the lack of clear guidance on essential decisions can make the experience feel unnecessarily drawn out.
- “Fully exploring branches can get a bit tedious, as you'll need to skip through the same prior scenes every time just to see how one decision may change an outcome. A few of the scenes required to legitimately reach the true ending of the game require some very specific builds and decisions. You'll likely be searching for a walkthrough to avoid sitting through the same scenes too many times, particularly since these vital scenes are not hinted at or signposted in any real way. It's entirely possible to reach what seems like a good ending for that branch and not realize you've missed vital information.”
- “Finishing can be quite tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by self-aware dialogue, engaging achievements, and references to pop culture, particularly Mad Max, which many players find amusing. However, the juxtaposition of the light-hearted humor with the darker themes of the story can lead to a distasteful tone for some, making the overall comedic effect a mixed experience.
- “Some funny achievements, and they had me at the references to Mad Max.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but the game itself is also self-aware at times, which is kind of funny.”
- “The story is engaging, the dialogues are funny (do forgive the occasional typo; there aren't too many of those, promise!) and the music is a bonus.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful music, which enhances the narrative's depth, and poignant storytelling that evokes strong feelings, particularly during tragic moments. Players feel deeply immersed, as if they are part of the unfolding drama, making the experience resonate on a personal level.
- “The music isn’t just background noise; it carries the emotional weight of the story.”
- “Descriptions of a world gone mad are efficient and heartfelt; some of the deaths are incredibly dire.”
- “I love all choose-your-own-story games, but this one made me feel like I was truly in it.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character designs, highlighting them as a strong point of the game, though specific details about character development are not mentioned.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, allowing players to form a strong connection with each character.”
- “I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “The backstories and personal growth of the characters add layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, with users reporting significant performance issues and suggesting that something may be fundamentally wrong with the executable file. Overall, it receives a low rating for optimization.
- “The game’s poorly optimized.”
- “The ugly - so poorly optimized (or something odd is going on with this .exe).”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game is praised for its complete lack of monetization, offering a fully free experience without any microtransactions or paywalls, which enhances the overall enjoyment for players.
- “Thumbs up for the literal effort to make this darkest of the dark horror fantasy (I don't like horror at all) and for the 'Sin City' frame for the graphic novel. I especially appreciate the fact that the game is totally free without the lure of microtransactions or paywall setbacks during gameplay.”
- “Don't worry, there are no in-game purchases, microtransactions, or anything.”
- “The game is totally free without the lure of microtransactions or paywall setbacks during gameplay.”
- “Don't worry, there are no in-game purchases or microtransactions or anything.”