I downloaded the game Animal Well on a whim, and so far I'm ??? not sure how far into it I am, I've opened three of the doors in the egg room and lit two of the beacons though.
So far I feel that it is a very fun and well-made game. It is a puzzle-based platformer where you freely explore the game world in whatever order or direction you feel like.
This is honestly one of the first games I've played where I've been able to figure out almost all of the mechanics myself without getting incredibly frustrated and having to consult outside sources. It is a common experience with games for me where I get stuck on something very basic, everyone tells me you shouldn't look it up because "you should be able to figure it out on your own," but I can't figure it out and I look it up and then realize I probably wouldn't have figured it out. I think this is because I have played relatively few games and I am not familiar with what elements are common in a genre.
Animal Well is known for having late-game objectives and puzzles that are nearly impossible to figure out without outside help, but I am very impressed with how the early game is challenging without being so unintuitive I would never "get" it without looking anything up.
Basically there are several tools you can obtain by exploration that interact with the environment in different ways, and it was fun to figure out all the functions they have by experimenting. The puzzles are hard but they don't feel unfair.
The art is beautiful. The game is a treat to experience visually. i suppose the graphics would be considered "retro" but I find graphically intense games to be overwhelming so it's just perfect for me.
Being non-linear also enhances my enjoyment of the game a lot. It is important for me to be able to run off and do something else if I get stuck on a certain area.
Overall so far I think I highly recommend it.
