This is an endlessly inventive Metroidvania with unfathomable depth.
But every screen was a discovery, every puzzle a mystery, every insight a revelation.
And that’s the case here too.
The titular well, more like an underground labyrinth, only deepens the enigma.
Its blocky walls and floors are pitted with missing chunks implying hidden crevices.
Hanging vines are curtains potentially obscuring alternative pathways.
Hanging lanterns lack the wattage to illuminate the corners of a room.
Shadows cast by scenery refuse to let you glimpse what lies beyond an obstacle until you arrive there yourself.
The tools and abilities that help you peel back these layers are ingenious.
Don’t expect anything as straightforward as a double jump to boost your reach and air time.
Equally, the level design always offers just enough carrot to coax you into inventive solutions.
Animal Well is full of ‘what if I tried this?’
But for the most part that’s not a problem.
Hummingbirds look all sweet and pretty until they start to interfere with your efforts to reach higher ground.
Take the ostrich that acts as one of four boss-like creatures, for example.
Elsewhere, a pair of kangaroos emit pained bellows as they bounce towards your position.
Congratulations if you resist the instinct to panic.
Not that Animal Well is a tough game to survive by any means.
Eggciting Eggstras
Except, as you finish, you’ve barely started.
This is where the real Animal Well begins.
One of the main post-credits motivators besides uncovering blank spots on the map is a literal Easter egg hunt.
On the downside, the pacing of Animal Well can flag a little at this point.
Animal Well was reviewed on PC, with code provided by the publisher.
