Animal Well - Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Animal Well
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5 (May 9, 2024)
- Nintendo Switch (May 9, 2024)
- PC (May 9, 2024)
Trailer:
Developer: Billy Basso
Publisher: Bigmode
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 89 average - 100% recommended - 26 reviews
Critic Reviews
But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 9 / 10
Animal Well delivers a gorgeous art style paired with unique gameplay and an uncompromising vision
CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10
Animal Well kept me captivated from start to finish and long after. Fans of Metroid-likes NEED to play this.
COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 80 / 100
Animal Well is a refreshing twist on the Metroidvania formula. Its tight platforming and clever puzzles make each exhilarating trek to distinct regions a blast. Although the retro-inspired art direction and odd presentation may not resonate with everyone, the originality and charm that imbues the game make this trip to the absurd a must for fans of the genre.
Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10
Uncover secrets, evade dangers, and embark on an eerie journey in ANIMAL WELL. Billy Basso has crafted a dark neon aesthetic and enigmatic gameplay that delivers a Metroidvania unlike many others. The mystery and cryptic puzzles won't be for everyone, but those who enjoy a challenge and a good platformer will be rewarded with a haunting adventure.
Destructoid - Jamie Sharp - 10 / 10
It’s one I’m grateful I experienced knowing so little, and urge anyone else sitting on the fence to wholeheartedly embrace until the darkness and biologically fueled light sources of its world envelop you in your beautiful, if slightly chilly, new home.
Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4 / 5
Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.
DualShockers - Sam Woods - 9.2 / 10
Animal Well is sure to be one of 2024's surprise hits. It's Metroidvania gameplay plays second fiddle to a seemingly endless mystery
Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 5 / 5
Explore a bright vision of subterranean nature in this astonishingly rich Metroidvania.
Game Informer - Charlie Wacholz - 9 / 10
Teeming with life, secrets, and charm that surprise and delight, Animal Well held my full, undivided attention
GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10
Animal Well delights with its non-traditional approach to Metroidvanias, combining unique items with a reactive and surreal world that's full of surprises.
GamesRadar+ - Jon Bailes - 4.5 / 5
Without giving anything away, it suffices to say that this rabbit hole goes a long way down, and if Animal Well is a Metroidvania, it's so much more besides.
Hardcore Gamer - James Cunningham - 4.5 / 5
Animal Well is a stunner of a metroidvania, usually charming but frequently creepy, mysterious but by no means unapproachable, and filled from top to bottom with secrets that are always satisfying to uncover.
Hobby Consolas - Alberto Lloret - Spanish - 92 / 100
Animal Well is one of the most interesting indie games that has been released so far in 2024.
IGN - Rebekah Valentine - 9 / 10
Animal Well is a beautiful, multi-layered puzzle box that’s both fun to simply play around with, and an utter delight to slowly crack open, secret by secret.
Nintendo Life - Nile Bowie - 10 / 10
Developer Shared Memory's stated goal is "to craft complete experiences that will be playable long after the world loses its internet connection," and screen after screen, Animal Well excels in delighting your eyes and giving your brain something to stew on. It's a riposte against a culture of post-launch updates in favour of a meticulously crafted, singular vision with potentially years' worth of discoveries baked in. By all indications, Animal Well delivers on that long-term promise and does so with a one-of-a-kind elegance.
NintendoWorldReport - Willem Hilhorst - 8.5 / 10
Even though it drops a few balls while juggling all these mechanics together, such as the boss battles. Still, ANIMAL WELL is a brilliantly put together game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost in a small but intricately designed game. I am quite convinced that both designers and players will be delving down deeper into this well over the coming years.
PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 90 / 100
A sleep-destroying puzzle metroidvania of baffling depth, Animal Well may go down in history as one of the genre's best.
PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10
Despite its confusing fast travel system and misbehaving yo-yo, Animal Well is a bizarre yet brilliant neon-bathed adventure, characterized by tricky puzzles, intense platforming, and a host of cute animals - almost all of which are out to kill you.
PSX Brasil - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 85 / 100
Animal Well is stunning and mysterious, a visual treat that offers open-ended and thought-provoking exploration. The total lack of explanations may put off part of the audience, but those who are willing to see how deep the iceberg, or rather the pit, goes, will have a lot to enjoy in this surrealist metroidvania.
Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10
Animal Well is an extremely rewarding game — if you're willing to lose yourself in it. The sort of mysteries it's hiding go well beyond finding collectibles, giving you a rich and detailed world to unpack. If you have the patience and the curiosity, it's absolutely worth plumbing its depths.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Edwin Evans-Thirlwell - Unscored
A gorgeous and immensely absorbing metroidvania platformer that is both easy to get into and dense with secrets.
Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10
Animal Well is one of the strangest metroidvanias I’ve played in a lot of very good ways. It’s pretty, funny, and scary in its atmospheric visuals and audio. Its platforming is also very satisfying and makes you feel good when you figure out how to use your tools properly to solve a puzzle. There are also secrets a plenty and a post-game to explore, as well. It's also just interesting to me that you don't directly fight with enemies and instead use your tools to work around them. The main double-edged sword here is the complete lack of context and hand-holding, which makes Animal Well charming and mysterious, but can make it difficult to keep track of what you were doing or where you should be going next. Nonetheless, if you want a solid and quirky adventure that will put your reflexes and puzzle-solving to the test, Animal Well is an absolutely fascinating journey.
Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored
Video Review - Quote not available
TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 10 / 10
Animal Well is a game that promised platforming and puzzles and has managed to absolutely nail both in execution. Platforming fans will have an enjoyable time reaching the credits and will be content to set it down while puzzle gamers will be enamored by the depth that Animal Well has been able to achieve. You won't get more satisfied by a game solving puzzles like these.
TheGamer - Eric Switzer - 5 / 5
This is a game best played alongside friends who can go in without any expectations and work through obstacles together. Don’t expect to be able to solve everything on your own, but at the same time, do everything you can not to ask for help. If you can be comfortable with contradictions like that, you’ll find a lot to love in Animal Well.
Wccftech - Kai Tatsumoto - 8.6 / 10
Animal Well is a fantastic breakout title from both a new developer and publishing studio. Fans of Fez and Tunic will feel right at home jumping into this well.