Top Hat Studios and developer Kyle Thompson have announced that dark fairytale Metroidvania Well Dweller will launch on September 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG. The game will also be available through Xbox Game Pass on day one.
The newly announced PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions will launch alongside the previously announced Nintendo Switch and PC editions. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will feature higher-resolution graphics and enhanced texture quality, giving players a more detailed presentation of the game’s hand-drawn fairytale world.
Created by Kyle Thompson, the developer behind Crypt Custodian and Islets, Well Dweller takes players into a strange and unsettling kingdom filled with bizarre creatures, mysterious characters, dangerous environments, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Players take control of Glimmer, a tiny bird armed with nothing more than a matchstick. After his family is taken by the wicked Queen, Glimmer sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue them before they are transformed into part of her royal gown.
The adventure combines a whimsical visual style with a much darker story, creating a world that looks like a twisted storybook brought to life. Glimmer will explore the kingdom, battle its terrifying inhabitants, discover hidden areas, and gain new abilities that allow him to reach previously inaccessible locations.
Exploration will play a major role throughout the adventure, with the kingdom hiding secrets, puzzles, powerful trinkets, and other discoveries. Players can collect trinkets to enhance Glimmer’s abilities and customize how they approach different challenges.
Combat will also be central to Glimmer’s journey, with the tiny hero facing a variety of hostile creatures and larger bosses while making his way toward the Queen’s domain. His matchstick serves as more than just a weapon, helping illuminate the dark environments surrounding him while playing a role in his journey through the kingdom.
Along the way, Glimmer will encounter a cast of unusual characters, including Ilda, a tiny mouse attempting to escape the Queen’s grasp, and Looter, a mysterious scavenger searching the kingdom for valuable items. These characters help flesh out the strange world and add to the game’s fairy-tale atmosphere.
Well Dweller was originally revealed during a Nintendo Indie World showcase, where its unusual combination of cute characters, hand-drawn medieval-style artwork, and unsettling subject matter quickly drew attention. The upcoming release will now give players across a wider range of platforms the opportunity to experience Thompson’s latest Metroidvania.
With its dark fairytale setting, exploration-focused gameplay, customizable abilities, and distinctive visual style, Well Dweller looks to offer a different take on the Metroidvania formula when it launches later this year.