I'll say up front that I enjoy a good challenge when it comes to video games. I can get down with soulslikes, challenging metroidvanias, and action RPGs that make me think twice about my character's build. However, there are plenty of times I just want to play a game that has the mechanics and tone of those genres without feeling like I need to tip-toe my way through an environment because I'm not sure when something is going to delete me in one hit. Thankfully, there are games like that out there, and Kyle Thompson's upcoming metroidvania Well Dweller is proof. In fact, after spending nearly an hour with its demo on Steam, I want so much more of it, as its emphasis on traversal puzzles over combat, its unique Tim Burton-esque art style, and its cozy atmosphere and lighthearted tone are what I didn't realize I was craving after fighting my way through Hollow Knight: Silksong.
I need to go ahead and note that Well Dweller isn't only coming to Steam on September 22, 2026, either, as it will also be launching on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. So, if you're as into playing metroidvanias on a handheld console as I am, and you don't own a Steam Deck but do own either Switch, you're in luck. But apart from its platforms, I simply can't emphasize enough how much of a breath of fresh air this is if you're looking for a metroidvania that, according to its demo, is a little on the lighter side. That being said, Well Dweller can still be challenging if you don't keep your wits about you, and its boss fights, especially, still require you to think. It's also possible that things ramp up in the full game after what I played in the demo, but based on my experience alone, it already feels like one of the best metroidvanias to play if you want a change of pace for once.
Before I dig into Well Dweller's combat, let me get into what this game is really trying to sell—again, based on my limited time with its demo. Yes, there is combat, and it's fun, but the heart of this experience is its world, its atmosphere, and its traversal. Actually, the majority of Well Dweller's demo revolves around solving traversal puzzles and, in standard metroidvania fashion, backtrack-heavy exploration. And when I wasn't exploring or fighting off weird-looking monsters, I was charmed by the characters and the presentation, both visual and audible.
Glimmer, Well Dweller's protagonist, is a tiny bird armed with little more than a matchstick, and he basically gets thrown into the role of unlikely hero when his family is torn apart. His siblings have been snatched away from their home, leaving Glimmer to venture out into this strange, rotting kingdom to find them and eventually make his way to the wicked Queen responsible for so much of its misery. His ultimate goal is pretty straightforward: reunite with his siblings, save his family, and burn the Queen. It's a surprisingly dark setup for a game that can be so downright adorable at times, especially once you start meeting Glimmer's siblings and seeing how they interact with one another. But I think that's a huge part of what makes Well Dweller such a unique metroidvania. The world around these characters is grim and occasionally unsettling, while Glimmer and the people he meets somehow keep the whole thing from ever feeling miserable.
Well Dweller's demo is essentially its prologue, introducing the game's signature combat and traversal mechanics, and setting up the main narrative of Glimmer venturing out to find his family. Unfortunately, the demo ended just as that premise was set up, but it did so in a way that made me want more of this charming little game, with a cliffhanger that started out creepy and ended in chaos. Nevertheless, it did its job, as it sold me on what Well Dweller was trying to do and what it would potentially offer me down the road.
It's possible that the full version of Well Dweller will have more of an emphasis on combat, but the bulk of what I played centered around traversal and exploration. On the traversal side, there's a simple jump action that can be slightly enhanced by holding the button down a bit longer. However, Glimmer can also slide—and it's quite satisfying to do—in order to fit through tighter passages and avoid damage. Rather than a standard dodge that so many metroidvanias seem to have, Well Dweller uses its slide ability for both exploration and combat, with slide actually making Glimmer invulnerable to damage while it's being executed. It's fun to use, for one thing, but it's also just satisfying hearing the soft sound it makes when the game's adorable little protagonist glides across the floor.
Well Dweller's more distinctive traversal mechanics see Glimmer using bubbles to reach greater distances and a match—his primary weapon—to achieve greater heights. By attaching himself to a bubble, Glimmer can float in the direction of your choice, with the jump button then allowing him to leap out of the bubble in any other direction you choose. He can also throw his match like a slingshot to attach it to a surface, after which the match becomes a springboard he can use to jump a little higher. The bubbles and the slingshot-match combo were actually the two mechanics I used most during the demo to solve Well Dweller's simple but fun traversal puzzles.
When I wasn't exploring or fighting off weird-looking monsters, I was charmed by the characters and the presentation, both visual and audible.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://gamerant.com/well-dweller-steam-metroidvania-like-hollow-knight-silksong-cozy-exploration/
