Animal Well is an indie title published under Videogamedunkey’s Bigmode label and developed by Billy Basso in 2024. On paper, it looks like your typical indie affair: pixel graphics, metroidvania structure, and a single-developer passion project. But the execution is something else entirely. The mix of atmospheric sound design, unsettling lighting, and clever gameplay elevates Animal Well into rare territory — not just as an indie darling, but as one of the best games of the year, period.

The hook is immediate. You wake in a cocoon-like flower, watch a squirrel scurry off, and then… nothing. No tutorial. No hand-holding. Just you, a little blob-guy with a jump button, a move button, and an item slot you don’t even have yet.

So, naturally, you go left.

Like any good platformer player, you ignore the obvious path to the right and instead poke at the edges. You find a hidden passage, an egg collectible, and the game quietly teaches you: the world is built on secrets. That first step sets the tone. Animal Well doesn’t explain itself. It trusts you to explore, experiment, and stumble into its weird logic.

A Blob with a Dream

Unlike many modern metroidvanias, Animal Well doesn’t start by stripping you of powers. You don’t lose your double jump or wall climb in some tragic accident. You just don’t have them. From the start, you’re literally a blob with a dream.

And that simplicity works. The lack of intrusive tutorials or flashy pop-ups keeps you in the flow of discovery. Every movement feels earned, every trick learned by trial. Yes, there are hearts to lose when enemies touch you, but the game is forgiving. Fall into water? No problem — hop right out. Death rarely feels cheap, and the real challenge lies in your creativity, not punishing mechanics.

The world itself is guarded by four boss animals, each tied to an area and a piece of the mysterious flame shown in the opening. These bosses gate sections of the map, but the structure is loose. You can wander freely, take another path, or return later with a shortcut unlocked. The map and stamp system help track places you can’t quite reach yet, and the game actively encourages backtracking without making it feel like a chore.

Tools of the Trade

Animal Well’s progression hinges on its items, and they’re brilliant. Each tool starts obvious: a bubble wand makes bubbles, a frisbee can be tossed. But every single item hides layers of secondary use. Discovering them feels like uncovering a magic trick you weren’t supposed to see.

The frisbee, for example. Sure, you throw it to hit switches. But then you realize you can hop on it and ride across gaps. Suddenly, traversal explodes open in new ways. That moment of joy — when the game clicks and you “get it” — is pure magic. It’s the kind of discovery that makes you want to put the controller down just to grin for a second.

Rough Edges

As much as I love Animal Well, it isn’t perfect. A couple small nitpicks stick out.

First: the damage invincibility window is a hair too short. In tight enemy clusters, a single mistake can chew through multiple hearts before you even recover. Not game-breaking, but frustrating in spots.

Second: the save system. Telephones act as checkpoints, which is charming, but they can be spaced far apart. Dying often means trekking back across long stretches of map. On one hand, it forces you to reflect on your mistake and sharpen your approach. On the other, sometimes it just feels like a time tax.

These aren’t deal-breakers, but they’re worth mentioning in an otherwise stellar package.

A Game That Sticks With You

What makes Animal Well special isn’t just the design, but the way it lingers. After playing, I found myself thinking about it constantly. At work, at home, in the car — running through possible tricks, hidden paths, or new ways to use an item. Few games inspire that level of mental afterburn.

Part of that pull is thanks to Dunkey’s involvement. Say what you will about YouTubers publishing games, but Bigmode’s first pick is a perfect fit. Dunkey’s whole shtick is about celebrating the weird, clever, and fun parts of games. Animal Well embodies that ethos. It’s playful and eerie, frustrating and rewarding, familiar and alien all at once.

By the end, I understood why this game racked up universal acclaim. It isn’t just another indie platformer. It’s a love letter to curiosity. It proves that trust in the player pays off. And it shows that even a single developer can push the medium forward.

Final Thoughts

Animal Well isn’t flawless. A longer invincibility window and closer checkpoints would smooth out its rough edges. But those are tiny blemishes on an otherwise gorgeous canvas.

The joy of discovering new mechanics, the haunting audio-visual atmosphere, and the freedom to wander and tinker at your own pace make Animal Well one of the best games I’ve played this year. It’s the kind of game that makes you want to talk about it, recommend it, and yes — write a whole WOTS review about it.

So here it is: Animal Well officially earns my third Top Shelf Game Award. As someone historically terrible at platformers, I didn’t expect to love this game. But it grabbed me by the collar and refused to let go.

And I’m glad it did.