Big Mode confirms Animal Well will launch in May

Big Mode, the video game publisher established by content creator Videogamedunkey, has finally revealed the official release date for what feels like its most-anticipated game: Animal Well.

Big Mode announced the title as its flagship game last year, and now we know it’ll be available for fans to get their hands on in just a couple of months.

When is the release date for Animal Well?

Animal Well will released on May 9, 2024, for PC via Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. We’ve received confirmation that the game will be completely Steam Deck compatible on day one, which is a huge relief. I love playing games like this on the Steam Deck, even if it is the base model and not the OLED one. The system feels made to be a home for interesting Metroidvanias with unique twists and mechanics.

In Animal Well, players take on the role of a ball. Just a ball. A ball that hatches from a flower, which is admittedly kind of cute. As you’d do if you were a ball that’s just been birthed by a pretty flower, you explore the environment around you and find items that can help you reach new locations.

However, you quickly realize that your surroundings don’t appear to be as wholesome as your character’s. Strange creatures lurk around every corner, an entire ecosystem has been established, and you’re at the bottom of the food chain. While that sounds like a great setup for a Metroidvania similar to Hollow Knight, Animal Well goes in a different direction.

There’s almost no combat in this game, meaning you have no way to fight back against the flora and fauna of the well around you. Instead, you’ve got to use cunning and the variety of items you’ll acquire during your time with it to trick or distract the things that would make a meal of you.

The latest trailer for the game surprised me even more than its announcement trailer. While I already knew about many of the mechanics, such as climbing bubbles and ducking into small holes to avoid a boss, are present, there are also some new ones. For example, there are bright explosives that appear to stun some creatures and a colossal chameleon that you’ve got to feed other animals to get around.

Animal Well looks like it could be quite tricky to get to grips with, especially the yo-yo item that gives you the power to swing around platforms. It also looks like a breath of fresh air, though. A game that could mix up a genre that’s already seen a pretty impressive title in 2024 in the form of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.