Developer Kyle Thompson has released Well Dweller, a new Metroidvania game available on Steam, which is being positioned as a potential contender for fans awaiting Hollow Knight: Silksong. The game features a dark fairy tale aesthetic and a challenging gameplay loop that includes adjustable difficulty options.
Well Dweller puts players in the role of Glimmer, a small bird whose family has been captured by the queen, who hunts birds for sport. Glimmer embarks on a quest to rescue his family, navigating a world filled with macabre imagery, including skeletal remains and landscapes dotted with plant life. The game's visual style contrasts Glimmer's cute appearance with a decidedly grim environment, where players even reside within a skull at the bottom of a well.
The gameplay centers on exploration and combat, hallmarks of the Metroidvania genre. Enemies and particularly boss encounters are designed to be challenging, though Well Dweller includes difficulty settings to accommodate a wider range of players, a feature noted as absent in Silksong. As players progress, Glimmer gains new abilities, such as using a matchstick as a springboard and a flight mechanic utilizing air currents, which unlock new areas and secrets.
This release marks Thompson's latest in a series of Metroidvania titles, following Sheepo (August 2020), Islets (August 2022), and Crypt Custodian (August 2024). While each of these games shares the Metroidvania structure, they each offer distinct themes and experiences. For those seeking a more colorful world, Islets is recommended, while Crypt Custodian features a cat protagonist. Well Dweller distinguishes itself with its unique dark fairy tale narrative and challenging bosses.
Previous titles by Thompson have typically offered completion times between eight and eleven hours. Well Dweller is expected to provide a similarly focused experience, aiming to be a memorable addition to the genre without overstaying its welcome. The game joins other notable 2026 Metroidvania releases like Mio: Memories in Orbit, offering players another compelling option within the genre.