Well Dweller, a dark fairy-tale Metroidvania developed by single developer Kyle Thompson, launched for PS5, Xbox, and PC on September 22, 2026. The title has quickly become one of the year’s highest-rated releases, earning a 91 on Metacritic and a 90 on Opencritic, where 100% of reviewers recommend the game.
The release marks a significant critical win for Thompson, whose previous work, Crypt Custodian, was previously recognized as the fourth-best indie game of 2024. Well Dweller enters a crowded autumn season with high momentum, ranking as the fourth highest-rated game of 2026 on Opencritic after 16 critic reviews.
Well Dweller Gameplay and Availability
Players take control of Glimmer, a tiny bird equipped with a matchstick, in a quest to save his family by burning a wicked queen. The game is described as a dark fairy-tale metroidvania set within a wretched kingdom populated by charming characters. The experience is noted for its quirky humour, rewarding exploration, smooth movement, and helpful tools,
with abilities and trinkets providing meaningful ways to customize a player’s approach.
“Well Dweller is a dark fairy-tale metroidvania, full of charming characters living in a wretched kingdom. Play as Glimmer — a tiny bird armed with a matchstick — who must burn the wicked queen to save his family.”
Game Description, via Purexbox
Direct Purchase: Priced at £17.99 / $19.99 for PS5.
Xbox Game Pass: Available for Ultimate and PC Game Pass members.
PC: Available for purchase and via Game Pass.
Beyond its scores, the game is noted for its accessibility compared to other titles in the genre. It utilizes helpful tools and smooth movement to ensure that completing the adventure is far less cryptic than typical Metroidvanias.
Xbox Launch Window and Other September 22 Releases
The arrival of Well Dweller is part of a larger wave of ten games launching on Xbox today. While Well Dweller and Dune: Awakening (which has transitioned from paid Early Access) are the primary Game Pass additions, several other titles have hit the platform. Dune: Awakening is described as a single- and multiplayer Open World Survival game featuring RPG gameplay and immersive adventure.
Notable non-Game Pass releases include the puzzle adventure Rivage, set on the planet VESTA in the 25th century, and the sequel Graveyard Keeper 2. Other releases include the tactical digital board game Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked, set in Forgotten Realms, and the high-momentum action game Gunstoppable, which features a fully-voiced story campaign. Additionally, the lineup includes BLACKSHARD, described as a dreamlike journey into uncharted liminal spaces,
Bubble Stomp, a platforming adventure, Fading Echo, set on the floating islands of Corel, and VORON: Raven’s Story.
Comparing 2026’s Highest-Rated Titles
Well Dweller’s 91 Metacritic score places it in an elite bracket of 2026 releases. Other games in the debate for best of the year include Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requeim, Pokemon Pokopia, Pragmata, Mina the Hollower, and 007 First Light.
While Well Dweller is a single-developer indie project focused on solo exploration and combat, Big Walk emphasizes teamwork and communication through proximity chat. Players in Big Walk journey through a wide-open world utilizing tools and toys to stay in contact, with a completion time estimated between 10 and 20 hours. Both games have managed to bridge the gap between critic and consumer sentiment; Big Walk maintains a 4.55 out of 5-star rating on the PlayStation Store, which converts to the same 91-point scale as its Metacritic score.
User reviews for Big Walk highlight the experience as more fun than expected
with challenging puzzles,
while another user described it as an amazing walk around a lovingly crafted game world.
Big Walk was available for free for PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium members on August 30 and August 31, before the offer ended on September 1.
For players looking for other high-profile releases this week, Silent Hill: Townfall and Control Resonant are scheduled for official release this Thursday.