Animal Well (2024) · Tastebuds

What lurks beneath the surface of this deceptively minimalistic adventure? In Animal Well there is more than what you see. Explore a dense interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets.

Platform Puzzle Adventure Indie Action Horror Survival Mystery exploration retro dark 2d metroidvania cute atmospheric pixel art surreal pixel graphicsXbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

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Character

Grave, contemplative, plot-driven and earnest.

gravecomic
contemplativerelentless
character-ledplot-driven
earnestironic
resolvedopen-ended

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“Is the ambiguity a cop-out?”
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From the critics

A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.

EurogamerChristian DonlanMay 20245/5
Explore a bright vision of subterranean nature in this astonishingly rich Metroidvania.
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TheGamerEric SwitzerMay 20245/5 stars
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.
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Nintendo LifeNile BowieMay 202410/10
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.
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ShacknewsTJ DenzerMay 20248/10
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.
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Digital TrendsGiovanni ColantonioMay 20244/5 stars
Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 98% of critics recommend it.

About the game

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Shared Memory
Publisher: Bigmode
Released: May 9, 2024
Modes: Single player
Perspective: Side view
Engine: Proprietary Engine
Time to beat: 6 h rushed · 9.5 h main story · 19 h completionist