Animal Well

Release Date: May 9, 2024

Arcade, platformers, puzzle elements, 2D, indie games, side-scroll, Surrealism, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, singleplayer

8.9

OpenCritic

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Animal Well is a puzzle game with platform game elements. We explore 2D maps, avoid dangers, collect objects and most of all solve puzzles.

Game mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

Animal Well is a retro-style 2D puzzle game with platform game elements. It is a debut project of Shared Memory studio.

Game mechanics

In Animal Well our task is to overcome challenges on 2D maps. The game world is huge and its exploration takes place in a non-linear way, allowing us to freely choose the order of tasks.

Our hero is defenseless, so to survive we have to rely on dexterity while avoiding threats and, above all, on cunning. The most important element of the gameplay here are puzzles. During the exploration we find a variety of items that interact with objects in the environment and creatures inhabiting the game universe.

Each item we get can be used in many different ways, and most puzzles have several alternative solutions.

The game world is initially plunged in darkness. Along with the progress, the player fills the map with candles, revealing successive segments of the land. An additional attraction is a rich set of optional secrets waiting to be discovered.

Game modes

Animal Well offers a single player mode only.

Technical aspects

The game was made in retro style full of large pixels.

Originals

December 23, 2024

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Nintendo’s highlights of 2024

Videos and Screens

[1:04] Animal Well Xbox Partner Preview Trailer

[0:52] Animal Well Animal Well - Accolades Trailer

8.9

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 99% of Critics. There are 54 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Shacknews: 8 / 10 by TJ Denzer

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.

Full Review

Destructoid: 10 / 10 by Jamie Sharp

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.

Full Review

God is a Geek: 9 / 10 by Lyle Carr

Animal Well is a Metroidvania that stands out in a crowded marketplace thanks to a lack of combat and some seriously creative power ups.

Full Review