Bigmode Games has just dropped exciting news for all indie game enthusiasts. Their much-anticipated title, ANIMAL WELL is officially launching on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The game, which the co-founder of Bigmode, Videogamedunkey, calls the first "open well" game, will be available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam, with full Steam Deck support.
ANIMAL WELL promises to be a unique experience, blending elements from various genres. It's an action-platform-exploration game with pixel-art aesthetics, utilizing next-gen lighting effects. While it has Metroidvania-like elements, it breaks the mold by having virtually no combat and none of the typical items one would expect from that genre. It's packed with puzzles but doesn't fit neatly into the puzzle game category either. The game's trailer can be viewed here:
The game's creator, Billy Basso, has devoted seven years of his life to ANIMAL WELL, even leaving his day job to focus on its completion. In ANIMAL WELL, players take on the role of a nondescript ball that hatches from a flower and sets off to explore its surroundings. The world is inhabited by a variety of animals, some friendly and others hostile. Players will discover items like a bubble wand and a yoyo to aid in their exploration. The game is priced at $24.99/£20.99/24,50€.
ANIMAL WELL aims to provide a dense atmospheric puzzle box world filled with secrets. It offers a nonlinear gameplay where players can explore and collect items in any order they choose. All items have multiple uses and interact with the environment and enemies in surprising and systemic ways. Beyond the main game, players can look forward to discovering hidden puzzles for years to come.
