Kyle Thompson Games: Well Dweller vs Crypt Custodian
The four games side by side
| Game | Steam release | Publisher | Steam price | Steam reviews (Sep 23, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheepo | Aug 26, 2020 | Kyle Thompson | $9.99 | Overwhelmingly Positive (601 of 625) |
| Islets | Aug 24, 2022 | Armor Games Studios | $19.99 | Overwhelmingly Positive (2,398 of 2,515) |
| Crypt Custodian | Aug 27, 2024 | Top Hat Studios (with H2 Interactive) | $19.99 | Overwhelmingly Positive (3,066 of 3,158) |
| Well Dweller | Sep 22, 2026 | Top Hat Studios (with Doyoyo Games) | $19.99 | Very Positive (157 of 163) |
What changed in Well Dweller
In an interview for GraciousRhino's demo video, Kyle Thompson named two goals. First, abilities that matter moment to moment: in Crypt Custodian most abilities were used only in specific spots, while here "every ability completely changes the way you move around the world." Second, a kingdom whose areas connect in a way that makes sense, instead of a snow biome next to a forest biome.
He also explained the bird: he starts from a general vibe — for Well Dweller, a tiny cute creature in a big scary fairy tale — and chose a bird because he wanted abilities built around hovering and flying.
If you liked the earlier games
- From Crypt Custodian: similar difficulty and the same publisher; Well Dweller swaps the top-down afterlife for a side-on dark fairy tale.
- From Islets: expect a harder, longer game with more boss fights (13 plus three chases).
- Community: the developer's official Discord covers his games, and the Well Dweller demo announcement pointed players there — see official links.
Developer questions
Who made Well Dweller?
Kyle Thompson, the solo developer behind Sheepo, Islets and Crypt Custodian. It is published by Top Hat Studios, which also published Crypt Custodian.
Is Well Dweller a sequel to Crypt Custodian?
No. It is a new game with its own world and characters; it shares the developer, the hand-drawn style and the publisher.
Which Kyle Thompson game should I play first?
Any of them stands alone. By the developer's own comparisons Islets is the easiest and shortest of the last three, and Well Dweller the longest; Well Dweller and Crypt Custodian sit at about the same difficulty.
Checked:
Sources: Steam store pages and review summaries for apps 1281790, 1669420, 2394650 and 3699590; developer Q&A on r/metroidvania; GraciousRhino's developer interview video.