Top Hat Studios and developer Kyle Thompson have set the dark fairy-tale metroidvania Well Dweller for a September 22, 2026 release across Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game previously confirmed Switch and PC versions after its initial reveal during a Nintendo Indie Showcase, with the console expansions now locked in for the same launch window.
Players take on the role of Glimmer, a small bird armed with a matchstick who must burn the wicked queen and save his family before they become part of her royal gown. The adventure unfolds through a whimsical yet morbid fairy-tale landscape filled with beasts, secrets, and new abilities to unlock, plus trinkets that upgrade and customize gameplay.
Xbox owners get an extra incentive, as Well Dweller will be available with Xbox Game Pass on day one, giving members access to the full game at release across Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.
The native Switch 2 edition will feature higher-resolution graphics and upgraded texture quality compared to the standard Switch build. That makes the new console version the visual showcase for Thompson's hand-drawn medieval-style fairy-tale illustrations.
Thompson brings a strong pedigree to the project, having previously created the acclaimed metroidvanias Crypt Custodian and Islets. Well Dweller marks his latest dive into the genre, this time wrapped in a twisted royal narrative where charming characters struggle to survive the Queen's corrupted queendom.
The developer has also released the first public demo for Well Dweller on Steam, giving PC players a chance to sample the matchstick combat and trinket-based progression before the September launch. The game joins a crowded September window, with multiple major titles bunching up across platforms as studios commit to release dates ahead of the holiday season.
