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  5. Animal Well

Animal Well

Overall Rating: 4.24 • 72 reviews
The Narrative Seeker The Sprint Player

Descend into a dense, interconnected pixel-art labyrinth in Animal Well, a surreal wonder that proves “small” games can have the deepest mysteries. Abandoning traditional combat for environmental mastery and cryptic discovery, this is a sanctuary for the Narrative Gamer who loves environmental storytelling and the Sprint Player who values a map that rewards every 15 minutes of exploration. There are no quest markers here—only your curiosity and a collection of strange tools. In the well, every shadow hides a secret, and every secret tells a story.

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Details

Some of the particulars and information about Animal Well.
Developer: Shared Memory
Release Date: May 9, 2024
How Long to Beat: 12 hrs

Great for:

The Narrative Seeker The Sprint Player

Ratings

Some of the ratings and scores for Animal Well.
90 Metacritic
9 IGN
-- Our Score

Genres

Adventure
Mystery

Systems

Here's where you can find Animal Well and play.

ESRB: Everyone 10+

Content Rating
Mild Fantasy Violence
Overview
Why Play?
How Much Time?
Overview

A masterclass in "Atmospheric Minimalism," this puzzle-platformer offers layers of secrets that go deeper than most 100-hour RPGs, all contained in a beautifully efficient package.

Why Play?

This experience offers a multi-layered "Rabbit Hole" of puzzles and a tool-based progression system that ensures every minute spent in the well yields a strategic return.

How Much Time?

Navigate a world that respects your clock, offering a concise main path and an infinite well of optional depth for the dedicated seeker.

Environmental Mystery For The Narrative Gamer

Animal Well is a dream for the Narrative Gamer who prefers “showing” over “telling.” There are no dialogue boxes or cutscenes; instead, the story of the well is told through its haunting atmosphere, the behavior of its bioluminescent inhabitants, and the cryptic murals etched into its walls. It’s a “Slow-Burn” mystery that respects your intelligence, inviting you to piece together the history of this subterranean world through observation. For the busy professional, it provides a high-value intellectual escape—a moody, immersive world that lingers in your mind long after you’ve put the controller down.

Surgical Discovery For The Sprint Player

Despite its depth, Animal Well is the ultimate “Life-Fit” puzzle game. The map is designed with incredible density, meaning you are never more than a few rooms away from a shortcut, a new item, or a “eureka” moment. For the Sprint Player, this is critical: you can log on for 20 minutes, solve one clever environmental puzzle, unlock a permanent fast-travel point, and feel a genuine sense of completion. The game’s fast load times and instant-resume nature (especially on handhelds) make it the perfect “gap-filler” for a demanding schedule.

A High-Value Audiovisual Masterpiece

Created by solo developer Billy Basso, the game features a custom engine that produces stunning lighting effects and a rich, layered soundscape. The “Crunchy” pixel art combined with modern fluid physics creates a premium aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and cutting-edge. It’s a dense, “Beefy” experience that packs more innovation into its 300MB file size than most “AAA” titles do in 100GB.

Layered “Post-Game” ROI

Animal Well is famous for its “layers.” Layer 1 is simply reaching the credits. Layer 2 involves finding hidden eggs and secret paths. Layer 3 is for the truly Investment-minded players, involving cryptic ARG-style puzzles that the community is still solving. This means the game grows with you. If you only have time for the main story, it’s a tight, 6-hour masterpiece. If you want a deep-dive obsession, it offers dozens of hours of high-level deductive content.

Non-Linear Tool Mastery

Instead of power-ups that just increase damage, you find “tools” like a Yo-Yo, a Slinky, and a Bubble Wand. These items aren’t just for puzzles; they are for interacting with the world. You’ll find yourself using the Slinky to hit distant switches or the Bubble Wand to reach high ledges. For the Sprint Player, the joy comes from the “Aha!” moment when you realize a tool you found an hour ago is the key to a room you saw this morning. It’s a rewarding loop of constant mechanical discovery.

The Ultimate “Life-Fit” Handheld Experience

Animal Well was practically built for the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Because there is no high-pressure combat or complex button combos, it is a relaxing but mentally stimulating experience to play on a commute or in bed. The map is clear, the save points (telephones) are frequent, and the game’s “Checklist” of eggs provides a perfect set of mini-goals for the busy player to track their progress.

The Main Ascent (The “Sprint” Path)

To reach the initial ending and see the credits, most players will take 6 to 9 hours. For a busy parent or professional, this is the perfect “two-week game”—short enough to stay fresh in your mind but substantial enough to feel like a complete journey.

The Completionist Depth (The “Narrative” Hunt)

If you decide to hunt down all 64 secret eggs and uncover the “True” ending, expect to invest 15 to 25 hours. This is where the game’s Narrative ROI truly shines, as the most interesting lore and the most ingenious puzzles are tucked away in the corners of the map, rewarding the curious player who takes their time.

The Infinite Well (Community Secrets)

For those who become obsessed, the secrets of the well go even deeper, involving hidden messages and puzzles that can take 50+ hours to fully unravel (or a quick trip to the community wiki). This ensures the game has a “Legacy” status in your library—you can always return to it months later to find one more secret you missed.

Trailer

A Quick Look at Animal Well

Curious what Animal Well is all about? The trailer gives you a great first look at the world, the vibe, and the kind of story you're stepping into.

Animal Well Trailer
Videos

Related videos for Animal Well

These videos give some tips and pointers on getting started with Animal Well

Animal Well Is As Good As Video Games Get (SPOILER-FREE REVIEW)

Arlo

Things You NEED To Know Before Buying Animal Well (2024) | Clayton Morris Plays

Clayton Morris

Animal Well Review

IGN

9 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner in Animal Well

Dr. Pooplove
Backbone One

Competing For the TV at Home? No Problem! Here's How You Can Play Animal Well on your phone.

You don't have to compete with the family for the TV to play console games anymore. With the Backbone One, your phone becomes your Xbox or PS5 controller, giving you the freedom to pick up and play when life gives you a spare moment. It's how we get most of our playtime in.
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Screenshots

Screenshots of Animal Well

Want to see what Animal Well actually looks like in-game? These screenshots will hopefully give you a feel for what the world of Animal Well is like.

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Articles

Read More About Animal Well.

January 22, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions About Animal Well?

Is this a "Metroidvania"?

Yes, but with a focus on puzzles rather than combat. You explore an interconnected map and unlock new areas by finding items. If you like Hollow Knight but prefer brain-teasers over boss fights, this is for you.

How hard are the puzzles?

They start simple but become very clever. The game never “hand-holds,” but the solutions are always logical. It’s a great way for a Resilient Player to test their lateral thinking.

Are there "Jump Scares" or is it scary?

The game is atmospheric and occasionally “creepy,” but it isn’t a horror game. The tension comes from the mystery and the scale of some of the creatures, not from gore or cheap scares.

Can I get "stuck"?

The map is non-linear enough that if you get stuck on one puzzle, you can almost always go explore a different wing of the well. You’ll usually find a new item or a new perspective that helps you solve the original problem later.

Is it worth the price if it’s so short?

Absolutely. Animal Well is the definition of “All Killer, No Filler.” Every room is a bespoke puzzle. It offers a higher “Quality-per-Hour” ratio than almost any other game released in the last few years.

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