Roundup: Well Dweller's First Reviews Arrive, Critics Call It an All-Timer

Two games landed on Xbox Game Pass today, and while Dune: Awakening was the one generating all the pre-launch buzz, it's the unassuming metroidvania Well Dweller that's turning out to be the day's real story. Early reviews have been outstanding, pushing the title to a 91 rating on Metacritic and making it one of the best-reviewed Game Pass additions in recent memory.

What Critics Love

Reviewers have been almost unanimous in their praise, singling out the game's gorgeous art direction, demanding but fair platforming, and tight gameplay systems. Console Creatures went as far as a perfect 10/10, calling it "an all-timer in the genre" and noting that there's "always something to uncover, new creatures to befriend, and weird and excellently designed enemies to fight."

Hey Poor Player matched that score, declaring it "the best one yet from a very talented developer" and praising its blend of "neat style, challenging and competent platforming, and nightmarish fairytale monstrosities." Both outlets are already eager to see what developer Kyle Thompson does next.

Gamer Social Club and Loot Level Chill each handed down 9.5/10 scores. The latter called it "one of the most polished and captivating Metroidvanias I've played in years," adding that even in a crowded release window it remains a must-play. Noisy Pixel's 9/10 review highlighted smooth pacing, intuitive combat, and approachable exploration as the game's core strengths.

Where It Falls Short

The handful of more measured reviews point to a common thread: the game plays it safe. Gameliner, scoring it 8/10, felt the adventure "started to disappoint" with its "lack of challenge" and familiar story beats, though the outlet still praised the sleek level design and charming audiovisual presentation. Press Start Australia, the lowest score at 7.5/10, argued that the game's "simplistic approach" leaves it in "a neutral void" — friendly enough for newcomers, but not bold enough to push the genre forward.

The Game Pass Verdict

Even with those mild reservations, the consensus is overwhelmingly positive. The Metacritic average sits at 91, and on Xbox specifically the game holds an 84 across four console reviews — still a strong showing. For subscribers, a highly polished metroidvania arriving day one at no extra cost is hard to argue with.

An informal reader poll alongside the coverage shows most people planning to check it out eventually, with 41% saying they'll play it at some point and 29% jumping in on day one.

Well Dweller is available now on Xbox Game Pass, with Dune: Awakening also launching on the service today.

Source: the original publisher