Downwell Reviews
A frenzied pace, a deep gameplay and a high level of difficulty: these are the ingredients of Downwell, a solid and billiant videogame, which is still unable to get completely rid of its mobile origins, though.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This is an excellent port of a game that feels like it's found a natural home on Switch thanks to a plethora of control options and the console's natural facility with vertical orientation. Short of popping your 4K TV on its side, Switch offers the very best way to play Downwell. Its roguelike structure and twitch platforming might not be for everyone, but you should really give it a chance. For our money, it's a modern classic that should be in everyone's collection.
Most purposely difficult games that have arrived in the wake of Super Meat Boy, Spelunky and Dark Souls are embodiments of a failure to understand that there's more to those games than just how hard they are, often making the only thing enjoyable about them the fleeting sense of achievement you get when you finally overcome a poorly-designed obstacle through luck or trial and error. Downwell, with its velocity and elegant simplicity, does not make that mistake. It's a difficult game, certainly, but it's also a generous one, likely providing its player with great heaps of joy for a ludicrously small time investment.
A fun game that will keep your frustrated and wanting more but with short play time and quick turnaround it might be something you put down before too long.
Downwell is a fantastic arcade game from the '80s transplanted into a modern-day computer. The pixely art style and minimal color palette reinforce its influences but the animation and number of different moving parts on screen at once are nothing 80s hardware would have been able to keep up with. The interlocking gameplay elements are far smarter than they look at first glance, teaching you how to play and get better while also not being shy about killing you dead.
Downwell is fun, addictive and visually distinct vertically scrolling shooter/platformer. It's tough enough to challenge you without being too frustrating, and will scratch that retro platforming itch in a whole new way. Check it out.
I had a ton of fun doing this Downwell review. I enjoyed the game on my iPhone, but the physical controls, cross-buy (buy it on PS4 and you'll get the Vita version and vice-versa) and it's full trophy count make this the definitive version of the game. Downwell is only $4.99, and it's well worth its asking price considering it has endless replay value.
Downwell may not have the lifespan of Spelunky or Nuclear Throne, games that have continued unfolding over years for their players. But it also doesn't appear to be aiming for such heights. Its focus is as straight and unyielding as the well down which it drops you. It is fun and addictive, but moreover it's adrenaline-pumping and shocking in its barbarity.
I can't say I exactly enjoy Downwell, as it's really not my kind of game, but the design and style of the game nevertheless has me playing it over and over again. It's addictive, it's charming in its retro design, and it absolutely has the "just one more go" thing about it that can turn a short play session into a marathon.
There's no sense of character upgrade or progression; any improvements made are strictly to your own skill. And if you want to get far in Downwell, then you'll need to practice your skill a lot
I definitely don’t regret the download – even though my Switch is bloated full of titles, I can see myself always coming back to Downwell whenever I need to fill a short five to ten minutes.
After years of hearing how cool Downwell is, it's great to see just how fantastic it really is. It's a straightforward, no-nonsense masterclass in design where it's super easy to sit down with the intention of playing for five minutes and walk away a dozen runs and more than an hour later. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some gun boots to fire off so I can get to the bottom of this well.
Downwell is a very fun action-packed experience that's definitely a worthwhile download for any old-school gamer.
Ojiro Fumoto’s smartly designed arcade game loses none of its appeal on Nintendo Switch, where a variety of display options and a budget price make it an essential purchase.
Downwell is not a highly complex game nor it it contains any moral dilemma to resolve, but the charisma of its world, the ease with which it presents its controls and its tiny but constant challenges presents us with a role model for the current roguelike and arcade.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A fantastic action-platformer with roguelike elements; Downwell is a pleasure to play. It's easy to pick up with a very high skill-ceiling. At such a low purchase-price it is hard not to recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of challenging, fast and rewarding gameplay.
An inexpensive time waster, but a time waster nonetheless. Still, it’s enjoyable for the short time it’ll keep your attention and it makes me crave a win. Though I also doubt I ever will gain one.
Downwell's Switch port proves that, no matter the platform, it's one of the most addictive and rewarding shooter platformers out there with its price point making it feel like an absolute steal.
Downwell finally made it to Switch and it’s found the best place to play. The Switch has done it again.