Downwell+ Apple Arcade - Tip, Walkthrough, Glitch

Our Site Score

91/100

Downwell is the definition of a perfect mobile game. It’s built around a single, ingenious mechanic: the Gunboots. These serve as your weapon, your propulsion, and your brakes. The game demands precise timing and rewards players who can maintain a flow state, falling through the darkness while picking off enemies without ever touching the ground.

The minimalist art style—strictly three colors at a time—is iconic. As you progress, you unlock new color palettes that change the game's entire aesthetic, which is a simple but brilliant motivator. It’s brutally difficult, but the rounds are short enough that 'just one more try' becomes a mantra. In a world of bloated mobile games, Downwell+ is a lean, mean, arcade machine that belongs on every device.

Reviewed on: Sun Apr 12 2026

Dinsun Review

This is what mobile gaming should be. No fluff, no daily login rewards, no energy bars. Just a boy, some gunboots, and a deep hole. It’s brutal, yes, but it’s fair. Every time I die, I know it’s because I messed up my jump timing, not because I didn't spend enough money.

The 3-button control scheme is perfect for touch. It feels like an old GameBoy title but with modern physics. My only gripe? It’s almost too addictive. I’ve spent more time in this digital well than I’d like to admit. It’s pure, distilled gameplay. A rare 10/10 for design, even if the difficulty will make you want to throw your phone.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Perfect touch controls
Incredible sense of momentum
Satisfying minimalist aesthetic

Extremely high difficulty
Minimal variety in music
Short runs can feel repetitive

Technical Report

Performance: Flawless performance; runs smoothly on almost any device.

Accessibility:

Unlockable Color Palettes
Controller Support

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love high-difficulty arcade games and retro aesthetics.

Skip if: You get frustrated easily by permadeath and punishing difficulty.

Similar Games:

Spelunky
Dead Cells
Super Crate Box

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, Arcade Veteran
Hardware: iPhone 13
Playtime: 100 hours
Status: Hard Mode Cleared

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Author : Devolver

Pubish Date : Wed Oct 25 2023

Last Update Date : Fri Nov 17 2023

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.0.2Fri Nov 17 2023

Fixed a performance issue on iPhone 15

Ratings & Reviews

4.5 out of 5 with 34 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 9+

Game Overview

Downwell+ is a curious game about a young person venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only their Gunboots for protection. Make your way further and further down into the darkness filled with nasty creatures and mysterious secrets to collect the spectacular red gems scattered about the rocks. Step into shops to buy helpful items or level up between stages to battle well-dwelling monsters. With procedurally generated levels, no two trips down the well are ever the same, offering a fresh, high-intensity adventure every time.

Downwell+ is a game that is available on Apple Arcade, a subscription service that offers over 200 games for a monthly fee. The game is a vertical platformer with roguelike elements, where you play as a young boy who descends down a well with his gunboots, which are boots that can shoot bullets. The game is designed for mobile devices, and you can control the boy with just three buttons. The game has a retro pixel art style and a dynamic soundtrack that changes depending on the situation. The game has received mostly positive reviews from the players and the critics, who praised the game for its fun and addictive gameplay, its simple and elegant controls, its charming graphics and music, and its replay value. For example, one review says: "Falling Down Is Fun in Downwell Plus on Apple Arcade. You can play this game and many more for free with an Apple Arcade subscription." Another review says: "Downwell+ is a timeless game, and I refuse to believe there are folks who care about iOS gaming who don’t already have it given its very low price."