Well Dweller

The premise

In a dark fairy-tale kingdom, the new queen has every bird hunted for a feather coat. One small family survives in a skull at the bottom of a well, until a hunter captures everyone except Glimmer. Armed only with a matchstick, he sets out to rescue them (Steam, Worthplaying).

One matchstick for everything

The matchstick is both a weapon and a traversal tool: you can plant it in a wall as a springboard, then recall it (Hardcore Gamer). New abilities arrive steadily: a slide, a stamina-limited wall climb and a wall jump (Hardcore Gamer). Worthplaying also mentions a slingshot and a Molotov-style throwable, for a deliberately small arsenal.

Platforming and trinkets

Nearly every area adds a new platforming idea, such as bells that reveal platforms or bubbles to bounce on. Hitting spikes just sends you back to the last safe spot (Worthplaying). Trinkets hidden around the world tweak your abilities, with a limited number of slots (Worthplaying, Hardcore Gamer). Some boss encounters are chases, and one sequence plays like a stealth game (Worthplaying).

Quality of life

Worthplaying praises save-anywhere, warping between tents, two map styles and purchasable hints. It puts a playthrough at 10 to 12 hours, plus a one- or two-hour post-game quest that unlocks the best ending.

What critics say

Worthplaying (9.0/10) calls it an excellent, polished Metroidvania with well-judged difficulty and length. It notes minor flaws: late bosses become easy with the right trinkets, the shop is tedious and the map scrolls slowly. Hardcore Gamer (4.5/5) praises the enemy and world design, the blend of cute and dark, and responsive controls, but criticises a boss with a mirrored-control section.

Art and music

Worthplaying finds the presentation fantastic, with papercraft-like animation and an Eric Thompson soundtrack it calls the real star. The same review says it runs well on Steam Deck.

Availability and price

On November 11, 2026, the game cost €11.40 on Steam instead of €14.25 until November 20, and €19.99 on the Switch eShop. PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store prices could not be checked that day.

Who is it for?

Well Dweller is for fans of classic, polished Metroidvanias with a gothic fairy-tale mood. Players looking for a large arsenal or a reinvented formula may find it on the safe side.