ANIMAL WELL is an indie Metroidvania puzzle-platformer developed by Billy Basso and published by Bigmode, the publishing label founded by YouTuber Jason Gastrow, known as Videogamedunkey. The game was released on May 9, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows, with an Xbox Series X/S version following on October 17, 2024.
In ANIMAL WELL, players control a small, blob-like creature exploring a dense, interconnected labyrinth filled with both beautiful and unsettling creatures. The game emphasizes exploration, environmental puzzle-solving, and discovery, with a focus on nonlinear progression. Unlike traditional games in the genre, ANIMAL WELL does not feature combat; instead, players collect various items that allow them to interact with the environment in surprising and meaningful ways.
The game is noted for its unique pixel art aesthetic combined with dynamic lighting and fluid simulations, creating a visually striking experience. The development process spanned over seven years, during which Basso built the game engine from scratch to achieve precise platforming and a distinctive visual style.
Upon release, ANIMAL WELL received critical acclaim for its innovative design, atmospheric presentation, and intricate puzzles. The game encourages players to think outside the box, with some puzzles designed to be solved collaboratively by the community over extended periods. This design philosophy has fostered a dedicated player base engaged in uncovering the game’s many secrets.
ANIMAL WELL is available for purchase on various platforms, including the PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Steam, priced at $24.99 USD.
ANIMAL WELL is a game designed to appeal to players who enjoy thoughtful exploration, intricate puzzles, and an atmospheric gaming experience. Its unique blend of genres, minimalist storytelling, and emphasis on discovery make it especially appealing to certain types of gamers. Below are the groups who are most likely to enjoy ANIMAL WELL:
1. Puzzle Enthusiasts
If you enjoy games that challenge your mind rather than your reflexes, ANIMAL WELL is an ideal choice. The puzzles are cleverly integrated into the world, often requiring observation, experimentation, and creative thinking. Many puzzles are nonlinear, allowing you to explore at your own pace and return with new tools or insights to solve previously inaccessible challenges.
2. Fans of Metroidvania Games
Players who love the exploration and backtracking elements of Metroidvania titles (e.g., Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge, or Super Metroid) will find ANIMAL WELL deeply satisfying. The labyrinthine world is interconnected, filled with secrets, and rewards players for thorough exploration. There’s no combat, but the sense of progression through tool-based upgrades is a core mechanic.
3. Players Who Enjoy Atmospheric and Immersive Games
The game excels at building an eerie yet beautiful atmosphere. Through pixel art, dynamic lighting, and subtle sound design, ANIMAL WELL creates an environment that feels alive, mysterious, and, at times, unsettling. If you love games where the environment tells a story (INSIDE, Limbo, or Journey), you’ll appreciate the immersive quality of this game.
4. People Who Like Discovery and Secrets
ANIMAL WELL thrives on mystery and hidden depth. It’s not just about reaching an endpoint; it’s about uncovering layers of secrets woven into the world. Some puzzles are so obscure or cleverly hidden that they invite community collaboration to solve them. Players who enjoy piecing together lore, finding obscure secrets, and participating in community discoveries will find this aspect deeply rewarding.
5. Gamers Who Prefer Nonviolent Gameplay
There is no combat in ANIMAL WELL. Instead, survival relies on evasion, observation, and clever tool use. If you prefer games that avoid violence as a core mechanic and instead rely on environmental problem-solving, ANIMAL WELL offers a refreshing experience.
6. Retro Gaming Enthusiasts
The game features pixel art graphics that evoke a nostalgic charm while incorporating modern visual effects like dynamic lighting and particle effects. If you’re a fan of retro-style games but want a contemporary twist, ANIMAL WELL balances both worlds beautifully.
7. Fans of Solo Developer Projects and Indie Games
There’s something inherently special about playing a game crafted by a single developer. Billy Basso spent over seven years developing ANIMAL WELL, building his own engine and carefully crafting every detail. If you appreciate the passion, care, and uniqueness that often come with solo indie projects, this game is a must-play.
8. Players Who Enjoy Slow-Paced, Thoughtful Exploration
If you’re not in a rush to complete objectives and prefer to take your time soaking in details, experimenting with mechanics, and moving at your own pace, ANIMAL WELL aligns with that philosophy. There are no timers, no failure states that send you back to the start—just an open world waiting to be uncovered.
Who Might Not Enjoy ANIMAL WELL?
- Players who crave fast-paced action or combat mechanics may find the game’s slower, puzzle-heavy pace unengaging.
- Those who prefer explicit storytelling and cutscenes might not enjoy its minimalist narrative approach.
- If you dislike getting stuck on puzzles or aimless exploration, this game might test your patience.
As of December 2024, there is no official announcement regarding a direct sequel to ANIMAL WELL. However, the game’s creator, Billy Basso, has expressed interest in developing a new project set within the same universe. In a May 2024 interview, Basso mentioned, “I’m currently planning to make a game that will be in the same universe but may not be a direct sequel.”
This suggests that while a continuation of the ANIMAL WELL narrative isn’t confirmed, fans can anticipate future explorations of its intriguing world. Basso has also indicated that any new content related to ANIMAL WELL would come in the form of a new game rather than downloadable content (DLC), stating, “There will never be any DLC for ANIMAL WELL. If I do work on something else related to it, it will be a new game.”
Therefore, while a direct sequel isn’t currently planned, the possibility of future games set in the ANIMAL WELL universe remains open.
Exploring the Pixel Art of Animal Well: A Fusion of Nostalgia and Innovation
In the sprawling world of indie games, pixel art remains a beloved visual style—a bridge between gaming’s nostalgic past and modern artistic expression. Animal Well, developed by Billy Basso, stands as a shining example of how pixel art can transcend its retro roots to deliver an immersive, atmospheric experience. While many games use pixel art to evoke the charm of older consoles, Animal Well takes the style into new territory, blending intricate sprite work with advanced lighting, dynamic effects, and environmental storytelling to create a hauntingly beautiful world. This unique blend of retro aesthetics and modern rendering techniques sets Animal Well apart from many other indie titles in the same space.
The Philosophy Behind Animal Well’s Pixel Art
At its core, Animal Well doesn’t simply adopt pixel art for nostalgic reasons—it uses the medium as a deliberate choice to serve the game’s core design goals. Billy Basso, the game’s sole developer, wanted every visual detail to invite curiosity and inspire exploration. Each pixel feels intentional, every shadow hides a potential secret, and the simplicity of the sprites enhances the game’s sense of mystery rather than limiting it.
The game features a labyrinthine underground world, one that feels both organic and otherworldly. The pixel art is rich in texture, with subtle details embedded in the environment—cracks in walls, glimmers of light, and strange shapes lurking in the darkness. Despite the minimalist style of the sprites themselves, the world feels alive and responsive, thanks to how pixel art interacts with the game’s lighting and environmental systems.
Lighting and Atmosphere: Pixel Art Reimagined
One of the most remarkable achievements of Animal Well’s pixel art is its integration with dynamic lighting. Traditional pixel art often relies on static lighting baked into sprite sheets, but Animal Well employs real-time lighting effects to great advantage. Torches cast flickering shadows, faint glows reveal hidden corners, and sudden bursts of light can illuminate creatures lurking just out of sight.
These effects aren’t just aesthetic—they serve gameplay purposes as well. Light often reveals environmental clues or hazards, and manipulating light sources becomes a key mechanic in solving some of the game’s puzzles. The interaction between pixel art and lighting creates an eerie atmosphere, where every step forward feels both exciting and perilous.
The game also makes masterful use of negative space and darkness. Entire sections of the labyrinth might be cloaked in shadow, with only faint outlines or reflections to guide you. This creates an unsettling sense of isolation while heightening the reward of discovery when a hidden path or object is finally revealed.
Creature Design: Minimal Yet Expressive
The creatures in Animal Well are another testament to how pixel art can evoke emotion and personality with minimal detail. Unlike the exaggerated, bold character designs of games like Shovel Knight, Animal Well’s creatures lean into ambiguity. Many of them appear as shadows, silhouettes, or distorted shapes, blurring the line between friend and foe.
This intentional vagueness serves the game’s central theme of mystery. A creature might seem harmless at first, only to reveal a predatory nature after a wrong move. Conversely, something initially intimidating might turn out to be a benign part of the ecosystem. The limited pixel detail forces players to project their own interpretations onto these beings, heightening the emotional stakes of every interaction.
Environmental Storytelling Through Pixel Art
The pixel art in Animal Well isn’t just visual—it tells stories. Unlike many games that rely on text boxes or voiceovers, Animal Well leaves much of its lore unspoken, embedding clues into its world design instead. Faint markings on walls, unusual plant formations, or discarded tools offer hints about what might have happened in these underground chambers. This environmental storytelling feels more natural and less intrusive, rewarding observant players with a deeper connection to the world.
Small visual cues—like a subtle crack in a wall or a slightly different texture on the floor—are often hints toward secrets and puzzles. This attention to environmental detail keeps players engaged and constantly scanning their surroundings, amplifying the joy of discovery.
Technical Innovation in a Retro Style
While the surface appearance of Animal Well may remind players of classic 8-bit or 16-bit titles, the game operates on a custom-built engine designed by Billy Basso himself. This engine allows for precise control over sprite interactions, fluid animations, and the aforementioned lighting effects. It also supports physics-based interactions, enabling objects and creatures to behave in realistic and sometimes unpredictable ways.
This technical prowess means that Animal Well avoids many of the limitations traditionally associated with pixel art games. Animations are smooth and expressive, water behaves dynamically, and lighting doesn’t just sit on top of the art—it interacts with it, casting shadows and reflections in ways that feel organic.
Comparisons with Other Pixel Art Games
Inevitably, comparisons arise between Animal Well and other celebrated pixel art games like Shovel Knight and Celeste. While Shovel Knight focuses on bright, bold visuals and action-packed gameplay, and Celeste uses pixel art to evoke emotional vulnerability and intimacy, Animal Well carves its niche through atmosphere and ambiguity.
In Shovel Knight, every sprite is crafted for immediate clarity—you know what’s an enemy, what’s a platform, and what’s a hazard. Animal Well, on the other hand, thrives on uncertainty. The ambiguity of its art style invites players to interpret the world in their own way, blending visual storytelling with mechanical depth.
The Future of Pixel Art in Indie Gaming
Animal Well stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when classic pixel art is paired with modern tools and creative ambition. It demonstrates that pixel art isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s a flexible medium capable of delivering rich, complex experiences that rival any high-fidelity 3D world.
For indie developers, Animal Well serves as both inspiration and a challenge: pixel art isn’t inherently limited, and with the right tools and vision, it can become a canvas for intricate worlds, subtle storytelling, and deeply engaging mechanics.
