One Year Ago, Animal Well Proved the Versatility of…

Animal Well was released on May 9, 2024, under solo developer Billy Basso's Shared Memory studio name as his debut game. The title had a good amount of pre-release buzz going for it due to also being the first official game published by well-known content creator VideogameDunkey's newly formed Big Mode label. Animal Well was a nearly instantaneous hit, quickly climbing up the Steam charts upon release and garnering positive reviews, as well as being a day one inclusion on PlayStation Plus, allowing it to reach even more audiences quickly. Suffice to say that in the year since it's been out, Animal Well has become a success story in almost every way.

On the surface, Animal Well is a modern Metroidvania, and closely adheres to many of the recognizable aspects of the genre. But the way it also plays with, subverts, and pushes the boundaries of traditional and expected Metroidvania elements within its structure is noteworthy. And as if to drive home this point, just recently, Animal Well took home Best Gameplay at the BIG Awards during Gamescom LATAM 2025. Animal Well is a testament to just how extensive and accommodating the genre can be when a talented creator approaches it from a different angle while remaining true to its core tenets.

LocalThunk, the developer behind indie smash hit Balatro, named Animal Well his favorite personal game of 2024.

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By J. Scott Thurlow

One Year Later, Animal Well Is a Monument to Metroidvania Design

Animal Well's eerie but captivating atmosphere, gorgeously rendered with high-quality pixel art, is a major part of its appeal. By also forgoing a traditional story framework, it serves only to increase the mystery and pull players into its world when they first find themselves controlling the nondescript blob-like character who tumbles into the titular space. As they do so, the levels present two main types of challenge, and Animal Well makes the utmost use of these throughout.

Animal Well's dual gameplay pillars revolve around precision platforming and figuring out the steps needed to progress through its map. It lacks traditional combat, and though it does feature a few encounters that might be called boss battles, even these require more careful observation and manipulation of the environment and proper use of items rather than direct conflict. And while the items that players accumulate as they search for a way out appear almost arbitrary and humorous at first, players will soon realize just how complex and effective these seemingly simple tools are.

Animal Well doesn't overly tutorialize or hold players' hands by explaining how every item works upon acquiring it. Instead, as fans venture deeper into the well, the title encourages and trusts them to experiment with trying all kinds of outside-the-box tricks with the tools it doles out. Perhaps one of the best examples that encapsulates Animal Well's clever design in this regard is the moment players discover that the frisbee can be ridden across gaps to access new areas and avoid enemies. It's this kind of intelligent approach that makes it stand out among Metroidvanias and creates a unique experience within the genre.

Then there is the layer beyond the above found in Animal Well's plethora of puzzles. While some are needed to progress, many others are optional. Basso was upfront about his focus on hiding multiple secrets, and if something looked like a cryptic clue or seemed like it was part of a bigger puzzle in Animal Well, that more often than not was the case. This was another big part of its popularity and warm reception, with players sharing their attempts at cracking various secrets and a viral crowd community rising to the challenge of solving them all.

Animal Well's Influence is Likely to Extend Further

With games like Axiom Verge, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Hollow Knight having laid the groundwork, Animal Well now counts itself among some of the best modern Metroidvanias. Through its smart and focused design that gives players everything they need to succeed, but not telling them exactly how to do so, Animal Well proved just how flexible the Metroidvania genre is, and will no doubt serve as inspiration for future titles to iterate on its ideas and presentation.

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