What do you get when you take the exploration of Metroid, throw in the strange fantasy world-building of Final Fantasy, but then shrink the hero down to a tiny bird carrying a matchstick? As weird as that sounds, a charming upcoming game lets you experience just that and is coming to Xbox Game Pass day one this month.
We’re talking about Well Dweller, a new “enchanting dark fairy-tale Metroidvania action-adventure” indie game, all set to launch on September 22 (via XBOX). Developed by Kyle Thompson and published by Top Hat Studios, it takes inspiration from classic exploration-focused games while putting its own strange spin on the formula.
Instead of stepping into the armor of a space-faring bounty hunter or controlling a traditional fantasy hero, you take on the role of Glimmer, a tiny bird who sets out on a dangerous journey to save his family from a wicked queen. And despite its deceptively cute protagonist, Well Dweller looks considerably darker than its premise might initially suggest.
Well Dweller will be available on Xbox, PC, and cloud as a day-one Xbox Game Pass release. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can jump into the adventure without having to purchase the game separately. Additionally, the game will also launch on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on the same day, that is, September 22.
The Metroid influence is particularly easy to spot in Well Dweller’s approach to exploration. The game is built around a connected world filled with areas to discover, enemies to fight, secrets to uncover, and paths that aren’t immediately accessible. As Glimmer gains new abilities, previously unreachable parts of the world can be explored, encouraging players to revisit familiar locations and see what they might have missed.
There is a similarly strong connection to classic fantasy games, although Well Dweller is far from being a being a traditional RPG. Its world is filled with strange creatures, mysterious characters, and a fairy-tale atmosphere that gives the adventure a distinctly Final Fantasy-like flavor. Instead of choosing the sweeping medieval kingdom setup commonly seen in fantasy games, however, Well Dweller turns its setting into something much more bizarre and unsettling.
There’s a significant contrast between cute and creepy here, and this is arguably one of the game’s biggest draws. Glimmer may look like an adorable little bird, but the world around him is populated by creatures and characters that wouldn’t feel out of place in a much darker fairy tale. His trusty matchstick also isn’t just there for decoration—it plays an important role in both combat and exploration.
Developer Kyle Thompson is also the brain behind Islets and Crypt Custodian, games known for their hand-drawn worlds, exploration-heavy gameplay, and colorful characters. So, Well Dweller’s focus on exploring a strange interconnected world shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Well Dweller is also arriving at a pretty convenient time for the Xbox Game Pass subscriber base, who are all set to have a great second part of the month. It’s a part of Microsoft’s second wave of September 2026 additions, joining several other games coming to the service in the next few weeks.
For anyone who likes the exploration and backtracking of Metroidvania games but wants something that feels a little more unusual, I’d suggest wishlisting Well Dweller right now. If you want to own the game instead of “subscribing” to it on Xbox Game Pass, Thompson is yet to announce its full price, so you may have to wait till the release day to find that out.
- Number of Devices Concurrently
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Standard subscription plan allows two accounts playing at once, with four accounts playing at once on Friends & Family plan
- Highest Resolution
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1440p streaming
- Number of Accounts
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~35 million subscribers
- Compatibility
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Xbox Series X|S, PC, ROG Xbox Ally, Android, iOS, Samsung & LG TVs, Meta Quest, Web Browser
- Price Per Month
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Essential $9.99 | Premium $14.99 | Ultimate $29.99
- Price per year
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12-month membership codes only available at certain retailers
