Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2026
Well Dweller
Developer Kyle Thompson
Well Dweller is a 2026 Metroidvania video game developed independently by Kyle Thompson and published by Top Hat Studios. The player controls Glimmer, a small bird armed with a lit matchstick, who sets out from the bottom of a well to kill the queen of a decaying kingdom and rescue his siblings. It was released on September 22, 2026 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S,… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
379 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 7, 2026 · last updated Oct 7, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
98
LovedLoved
265 positive · 6 negative
95% range 95–99%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 265 | 6 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
108 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Overwhelmingly Positive
2,871 of 2,939 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 379 · most liked firstJust announced my next game, Well Dweller! Well Dweller is a dark fairy-tale metroidvania about a tiny bird armed with a matchstick. I previously made Crypt Custodian and Islets and I’m so excited to share this new game! Wishlist on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/...
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller is such a beautiful game There's clear inspiration from Hollow Knight, some Celeste in there, I think a bit of Little Nightmares, and it's got such a wonderful creepy/cute vibe to it, real creepy children's fairytale kinda thing going. I'd nearly immediately recommend it.
unlabelledView post →Looking for a new Metroidvania game? 🤔 Well Dweller might be for you! Fantastic music, thrilling boss battles, lots of trinkets and secrets to find. Also has a great story that you want to keep playing and the game is charming. Why not give it a play and discover a new favorite? ☺️
unlabelledView post →My game Well Dweller, will have a free demo on Steam April 23!It's a dark fairy tale metroidvania where you play as a tiny bird with a matchstick. Please wishlist on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/...
unlabelledView post →PAX East highlights! Had a great time Saturday. My true #1 takeaway was spending time w one of my best friends BUT we also saw awesome games My top 5 + cool moments in thread below but my game of the show… easily WELL DWELLER Was already excited, legit stumbled on this demo, it’s peak (1/3)
unlabelledView post →2026 game #40: Well Dweller Kyle has rapidly become one of my fav devs. He makes metroidvanias but I call them whimsy action plaformers. While Crypt Custodian still has my fav story, Well Dweller wins for art, gameplay, & my new fav character EGBERT IS A CHAD AMONG CHADS
unlabelledView post →I had so much fun with this, it was an incredibly charming metroidvania that avoids so many of the traps that many other indie metroidvanias have fallen into nowadays. The game respects your time, it's not randomly throwing in souls-like mechanics or trying to make it brutally hard just for the sake of it. I enjoy hard games, but I think indie games have been leaning too far into that camp lately, I liked how comfortable this was. It's not that it was super easy, it's more so that it's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →100% Well Dweller + 100% Achievements in 14 hours. This was easy the SMOOTHEST "vania" game I have ever played. Music/Gameplay/Story/Art/Bosses/Upgrades ALL 10/10. The best thing I can say about this game is the map. They did it right. HANDS DOWN the best map of any "vania" game. Love the option for square grid mode and most importantly the thick white lines on the map. VERY VERY GOOD. Only "real" complaint is...THIS GAME IS TOO SHORT!! I WANT MORE!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →2026 game #25: Islets I have a category called Smile: The Game. Peak examples: Dragon Quest. I’m officially adding Kyle Thompson’s games bc Islets was the last I needed to play & it was a fucking DELIGHT. If I’m playing, I’m smiling. Art, humor, metroidvania. IM READIER THAN EVER FOR WELL DWELLER
unlabelledView post →---See where this game landed on my Metroidvania Tier List beneath this rec!--- Another banger by Kyle Thompson. The games level design is dominated by the 'throw javelins to make platforms' mechanic and I can't think of a better implementation of it - it flows so seemlessly. There's often multiple ways to traverse an area with the movement tech. I played on hard difficulty which felt just right and I 100%'d the achievements (easy to do thanks to map markers). Some of the boss fights…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet it’s not because of something bad it’s because I’m obsessed with Well Dweller and don’t spend much time online lol I literally logged off work and just played it the whole night This is such a good game and I’m not shocked. It’s exactly what I wanted it to be
unlabelledView post →I was ever so fortunate to be given early access to Well Dweller and it exceeded all of my expectations. The character, Glimmer, is a bird who has to grow up fast to save his family from the evil Queen. This is a game based on fairytales but not as you know them - it takes its roots right back to those of Brother Grimm but the visuals give this game a charm that is totally its own. It is a metroidvania but it is pitched at a different difficulty level to Silksong - here that is an advantage as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Things have been pretty bleak since the new Queen came to power, but it seems like there's still some things to celebrate. What are the locals up to? Well Dweller launches September 22 for PC, Nintendo Switch (with Nintendo Switch 2 Edition), PS5, and XBOX Game Pass (supporting Play Anywhere)!
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller, the next game by Kyle Thompson (Crypt Custodian) is releasing September 22nd! It introduces a cool torch concept to uniquely explore its metroidvania dungeons. Can't wait.
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller absolutely captivated my attention, if you want a good creepy-cute Metroidvania, I'd highly recommend giving the demo a try. The artstyle is absolutely gorgeous, and I must get to playing the developer's previous game Crypt Custodian.
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller is such an incredible game in the 2-ish hours that I've played so far, and it deserves all the love it can get! 🥹 So... YEAH, here's a contest!! 👇 Maybe you can get a cool new indie to play! It doesn't hurt to enter for a chance to win a free game, right? Right??
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller looks AMAZING!! The iteration of the art style is GORGEOUS I can’t believe Kyle Thompson has another game already - Sheepo, Islets, Crypt Custodian - that makes 4 games from 2021 to 2026 🤯👏👏👏 youtu.be/J1e29j2DzqU?...
unlabelledView post →11 hours for me to 100%. Gorgeous art, good controls and an interesting premise for the narrative. There are difficulty options but it's not really a game for sweats. There's a built in system for finding hidden items if you missed some stuff. Well worth checking out if you have even a passing interest in metroidvanias. Only negative is that it's too short! Wish it was either longer or had some kind of replay value. Fantastic one and done game though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →'Well Dweller' Reviews: Seasoned Gaming 8/10 Gamer Social Club 9.5/10 Console Creatures 10/10 Noisy Pixel 9/10 The Indie Informer 9/10 OC 90: opencritic.com/game/21304/w... MC PC 91: www.metacritic.com/game/well-dw...
unlabelledView post →The writing is dark fairytale tone, but it's still cute and funny situations and dialog like Islets and Crypt Custodian were. I'm not a fan of platformers (but I play them when Kyle Thompson writes them) so I was really happy to see in the Accessibility menu there are some options to make it even easier than the Easy difficulty: Combat, you can do more damage and take less damage. Platforming, there are Time Trials and you can add a BUNCH of extra time to them if you want. There is an…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well Dweller launches very soon on September 22, for Nintendo Switch, PS5, XBOX Game Pass (with Play Anywhere), and Series X|S! Before you set out on your journey, take a moment to brace yourself for what lays across the Queen's lands.
unlabelledView post →Don't get it wrong, we are excited to review all the games we get access to but, this one happened to be on both of our most anticipated lists. Check out Jason's review of Well Dweller from @kylethompsondev.bsky.social: www.deargamers.net/reviews/well...
unlabelledView post →Im only a few hours into Well Dweller. Islets and Crypt Custodian were top 10 games for me in their respective years. This game is so clearly on another level it's crazy. @hananomaude.bsky.social called it from the PAX demo she played months ago. This is a true GotY contender. Play this shit.
unlabelledView post →Coming to Game Pass news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/0... Ultimate: -Kernel Hearts (9/17) -Well Dweller (9/22) -Minecraft Dungeons II (9/29) -Gears of War: E-Day (10/6) Premium: -RuneScape: Dragonwilds (today) -Marvel Cosmic Invasion (9/16) -Planet of Lana II (9/16) -Routine (9/16)
unlabelledView post →34. Well Dweller The developer of Crypt Custodian and Islets (I should really play those, I've heard nothing but good things) has a new game coming that looks to be a very neat metroidvania and has an excellent creepy-cute aesthetic. Instead wishlist as soon as I saw it.
unlabelledView post →A PROCLOMATION! The anniversary of Crypt Custodian's release is approaching. To celebrate the occasion, an announcement regarding the next game from Kyle Thompson, WELL DWELLER, will be made on August 24th.
unlabelledView post →Refunded after 3 bosses, the game is exceedingly bland, if you've played any high quality metroidvanias at all, you'll be bored out of your mind because Well Dweller is threadbare mechanics wise, there are no builds, no sub-weapons, no spells, no pogo, no parry, even Momodora RUTM from 10 years ago has more meat on the bone. You just bash enemies with your stick and once you build up a bar you can throw a little bomb. That's the entire gameplay loop. Also, while I don't like doing this, I have…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Mainwhile I’m looking forward to Exit 8 S2 edition, NeverWay and that first game Well Dweller 👀
unlabelledView post →While far from perfect, Well Dweller is a game I'd recommend to fans of the genre. An 18 hour playthrough on normal was enough to hit 100% with all steam achievements. The most recent Metroidvanias I've played prior to this are Cave Story, Mio, Silksong, Environmental Station Alpha, Haiku the Robot, Lone Fungus, and Animal Well. I've played (and loved) Kyle's previous games Islets and Crypt Custodians. I'd consider myself very experienced with the genre, but not a particularly "skilled"…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Live! Wrapping up this cute metroidvania style game! Well Dweller! 🖤🦉🖤 Twitch.tv/WhatsHerFace
unlabelledView post →2 hours in and it's shaping up to be one of the best releases of the year. Kyle Thompson continually improves with each game he releases, and doesn't abandon basic principles of metroidvania design for complexity. In a space flooded with soulsvanias and middling waifu shovelware titles, Kyle Thompson is a breath of fresh air in the space. Between him and Team Ladybug, there's nobody else making games in this genre that I'm consistently as hyped for. Shame on everyone here for sleeping on…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dark fairy-tale metroidvania Well Dweller looks incredible, probably a must-have for Hollow Knight fans #WellDweller #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamDeck
unlabelledView post →Game #18 of 2026 completed: Well Dweller The same solo dev releasing 3 different 9/10+ games for me within the same decade (that isn't close to over) is truly incredible. @kylethompsondev.bsky.social is genuinely unreal. His best work yet.
unlabelledView post →Another absolute banger from Kyle Thompson! I adore their creative mechanics for platforming. The gameplay is smooth. The art style is a beautiful signature to adventure in. Also, it's hard not to love the gaggle of charming characters. Really enjoy the dry, and borderline dark sense of humor. It's all topped off with a lovely set of tracks. Thanks for another hot game in my library!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →'Well Dweller' launches September 22nd on Xbox Series, Game Pass, PS5, Nintendo Switch 1&2 and PC. youtu.be/Wwg5WYvDV_M
unlabelledView post →Let's switch it up tonight with this cute metroidvania style game! Well Dweller! 🖤🦉🖤 Twitch.tv/WhatsHerFace
unlabelledView post →LIVE NOW! 🔴 Hey folks, come join me for more WELL DWELLER! It's a positively phenomenal game so far and I can't wait to show you more of it. Super creepy & cute fairytale artstyle, fantastic platforming. www.twitch.tv/caseyexplosion
unlabelledView post →I haven’t played a single one of Kyle Thompson’s games and I didn’t have this game on my radar at all. I randomly stumbled upon it on Steam, saw the screenshots and the overwhelmingly positive reception and was quite baffled to find out that it was only about 10€. This was an instant buy. The art-style of Well Dweller is amazing. It’s a unique combination of the cozy and the bizarre. Character designs range from the absolute cutest little animals you have seen in your life to the most…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"Regardless of your history with the genre, Kyle Thompson’s Well Dweller makes a strong case for any player to fall in love with the metroidvania… or fall back in love, as the case may be." Read @aspecificegg.bsky.social's review of Well Dweller - nosmallgames.com/2026/09/well...
unlabelledView post →This game absolutely deserves a review. It’s honestly unbelievable that this game was created by just one person. It feels like a simplified version of Hollow Knight in some ways, but at the same time, it is completely its own game with its own identity, ideas, and charm. And honestly, this is exactly the kind of game that deserves players’ support. These are the games we should be buying as gifts for our friends, recommending to others, and helping spread as much as possible. Games like…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ok Well Dweller was by far the most exciting announcement in today's Indie World Showcase 🤩 Granted, I will buy pretty much any game that @kylethompsondev.bsky.social creates, but this also just looks like a really special mix of dark and adorable www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1e2...
unlabelledView post →So many 2D Action/platformers become Metroidvanias because it's a safer bet from a marketing perspective over a linear game imo. You can tell because the Metroidvania stuff always feels very tacked on. Well Dweller is not that. It's truly created by a Metroidvania sicko. Kyle Thompson is my GOAT
unlabelledView post →A little less than an hour in and I'm already delighted. Kyle Thompson is an amazingly consistent dev. I loved Islets, I loved Crypt Custodian, I'm already loving Well Dweller. He doesn't try to reinvent the metroidvania wheel so much as he just adds these creative little touches. Like for example shooting a match into a wall and using it as a trampoline instead of just giving the character a double jump right at the start. Combat is pretty breezy on Normal difficulty, but enough to be…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really enjoyed this game. It honestly reminded me of Hollow Knight at times, especially with the atmosphere, exploration and art style, but it still feels like its own thing. The gameplay is really smooth, the music is great and exploring the world never felt boring. I also really liked the bosses and upgrades. Everything just works really well together.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well Dweller [PC - 91] is out tomorrow: www.metacritic.com/game/well-dw... "One of the most polished and captivating Metroidvanias I've played in years, and even in this packed season it's a must play." - Lyle Pendle, Loot Level Chill
unlabelledView post →It's a straight up masterpiece, i haven't witnessed such a consistent experience in every aspect of the game trough out the entire game in a long time. 10/10 I have no words
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An amazing developer - I absolutely love their games. I would recommend their titles to any fan of Metroidvanias and relaxing games with great storytelling. They exude such a peaceful atmosphere, and you can instantly feel the heart and passion poured into them. The storylines, dialogue, music, and enemy variety all deserve special recognition, reflecting the incredible effort invested in every project. I eagerly await future releases and wish the team continued success.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Now starting Sheepo, the debut indie game from Kyle Thompson! I LOVED his latest game, Crypt Custodian, and I'm looking forward to playing Islets (after this) and Well Dweller later this year! First impressions of this short metroidvania to come later today 😌 #Sheepo
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller is a gorgeous game. A very approachable metriodvania with the most incredible atmosphere. I expected nothing less from the same dev who made Crypt Custodian. store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/...
unlabelledView post →LIVE NOW! 🔴 Hey folks, come by and say hi because tonight I'm playing some WELL DWELLER! Been greatly anticipating this one, and it's finally here, so as always all the signal boosts hugely appreciated. You gotta see this game! www.twitch.tv/caseyexplosion
unlabelledView post →Deep within the forest, at the bottom of a well, lives the only creature brave enough to burn the Queen. Well Dweller launches September 22 on Steam, GoG, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, PS5, the Xbox family and on Xbox Game Pass!
unlabelledView post →My brother (not by blood, in case anyone gets confused) is doing a giveaway for a game that just came out today - Well Dweller 👀👀👀
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller, the 4th metroidvania by solo-dev Kyle Thompson, is out now on all major platforms with a rating over 91% on Metacritic. Seems like he's perfected his style. If you haven't played [Crypt Custodian](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2394650/Crypt_Custodian/) or [Islets](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1669420/Islets/), I recommend them. They're not as long or as challenging as some others, but people fall in love with Kyle's point of view. >Well Dweller is a dark fairy-tale…
unlabelledView post →If you enjoy the Metroidvania genre, if you want to play a game that makes you smile because of its character development (Egbert, for example), or if you simply want to play something that warms your soul with good vibes, this game is for you. Don't hesitate to buy it. Kyle Thompson absolutely deserves our support.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really like the vibe of this game. The atmosphere, art style, and especially the music all work really well together. I'm getting a lot of the same enjoyment from it that I got when I first played Hollow Knight, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it. That said, Well Dweller is nowhere near as difficult or in depth as Hollow Knight was, and it doesn't have the same serious tone. This game is much more lighthearted and, overall, fairly easy. There are difficulty options, but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Definitely feeling that post game sads after beating Onimusha. I don't have another new game lined up until Well Dweller comes out on Tuesday
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller is a game that was specifically designed to appeal to me in particular. Pictured: the protagonist, a tiny crow, entering the home of a sinister dollmaker who turns crows into dolls
unlabelledView post →Well Dweller is a well crafted game. 100% completed in 18 hours. Easily recommended for both Metroidvania fans and new to the genre. It’s very accessible, featuring 3 difficulty settings, a toggleable minimap, and in-game marker you can buy if you ever get lost looking for next major milestones or collectibles. Veterans should try Hard for a bit of challenge. I loved every moment and still want more. The art style is great, each boss feels unique, and M&K controls are super responsive.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Links for ease of checking these out! Well Dweller was one of the most impressive demos of the recent Steam Next fest, and one of my most anticipated games all year. Vibrating with excited to get my hands on the full game.
unlabelledView post →Indie Game Discovery - one to get on your radar, check out Well Dweller, a metroidvania that brings a dark fairy-tale look and feel with some great charm and characters www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZsW... #indiegamedev #gamedev #indiegames #indiegame
unlabelledView post →
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