Animal Well

Image via Shared Memory

If you're into indie games for their experimental nature, Animal Well might up your aisle. Developed by Billy Basso, a former programmer at NetherRealm Studios, it is a 2D puzzle game that incorporates horror elements and platforming.

Slated for release on PlayStation five and Steam, Animal Well is coming either after this year or early next twelvemonth. Its developer shared a post on the PlayStation weblog discussing the projection'south concept.

Basso isn't necessarily aiming to make a scary game but still wanted to capture the sensibilities of a survival horror game. This is achieved through its fine art blueprint, which mixes moody lighting with eerie environments and creatures. The current-gen exclusivity is beingness used to heighten the pixel art with lighting and visual effects that, "will push the PlayStation 5 hardware."

Animal Well is set in an interconnected labyrinth that features optional content beyond the disquisitional player path. It uses a Metroidvania-style approach to progression, with players returning to familiar areas with new abilities to progress. Exploration and dubiousness are key elements Blasso hopes to hone in on.

According to the post, Animal Well contains layers beyond the standard 100% completion. Referred to as the 3rd layer, Basso expects to fill the game with obscure puzzles that he suspects will but be solvable through community collaboration. There'due south also a fourth layer, filled with secrets that just he knows about, challenging the community to expose them.