Bigmode, the publisher set up by gaming content creator Dunkey (also known as videogamedunkey), has announced its first project. Animal Well is a 2D Metroidvania platformer with echoes of Environmental Station Alpha and Narita Boy, and it's coming to Steam and PS5.
Back in September, Dunkey announced he would be entering the gaming industry professionally, launching his publishing outfit Bigmode. At the time, Dunkey said he was confident his publishing studio would be successful because he "understands what kind of ideas always work", having played so many video games during his time as a content creator.
Animal Well is Dunkey's chance to put his money where his mouth is. Created by indie developer Billy Basso, it's an exploration-heavy platformer with "tons of secrets" to discover, many of which players will still be discovering for "years", according to the game's Steam page.
It sounds like Animal Well is placing emphasis on discovering things for yourself, too. You'll have to make a decision about which creatures are harmful and which are safe, for instance, and the game won't hold your hand when it comes to the solutions to its puzzles, either. You can add Fez and Rain World to the game's list of influences, by the sound of things.
Dunkey is just one content creator getting into the world of game development and publishing. He joins the likes of Noclip, the documentary creators who announced last year that they would work on a game in order to better understand the industry. Dunkey's outfit isn't just a one-off, though; it sounds like Bigmode is here to stay, at least assuming its projects achieve a level of success.
You can wishlist Animal Well on PC via Steam right now. The game is also making its way to PS5, although we don't yet have a release date for either platform. Stay tuned to TechRaptor for more news about Animal Well and about Bigmode's future publishing endeavors.
