The Bottom of the Well

A visual novel where Alice steps into a different kind of wonderland.

In The Bottom of the Well, you play as Alice who has just had an unsettingly life-like dream about the end of the world. She retells her experience to her friend in a huge, branching narrative. Although a single play-through might take as little as 20 minutes, experiencing all the possible paths Alice can take through the ruins of her city will take you many hours.

The game is intended to be replayed several times with different permutations of Alice: try playing as a survival-minded lone-wolf, or a social butterfly, or why not attempt the difficult but rewarding romantic route? The stats you select for your Alice in the beginning of the game influences everything from small comments to major choices.

This is an updated, reworked and improved version of my entry to the WAG (Write A Game) Challenge arranged by IGDA's Game Writing SIG, where it placed first in the amateur category. The jury had this to say:

- WINNER: THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL
The Bottom of The Well delivers an entertaining, branched story with interesting options. Alice's dream is genuinely terrifying. The conversations feel natural and appropriate. Players can randomize their character stats, but still negotiate the game with deliberate and meaningful choices. The final game stats give The Bottom of the Well immense replay value. One judge played the game several times to find the "best" ending!

Note: Although this is a 'release' version, it still contains bugs. Feel free to contact us (contact information available in-game) with bug reports, feedback or anything else! You can also simply write a comment below!

If you want to get a taste for what it plays/looks like, check out Nigma's Let's Play on YouTube! Both parts now uploaded!!

YouTube: The Bottom of the Well #1 (Let's Play)

YouTube: The Bottom of the Well #2 (Let's Play)

UPDATE 12.2.2016:

Updated to version 1.1, download the new file below. No major changes - fixed a few game breakers and some aesthetic issues, and a few game logical things.

UPDATE 16.2.2016:

Uploaded Android and iOS-versions, compatible with Android tablets / iPads!

UPDATE 17.2.2016:

Now on Greenlight! Share and vote if y'all are Steam users and want to support this kind of thing :)

Naturally it will always be available here on itch as well, DRM-free and all that.

-> http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/...

Update 19.2.2016:

Updated Windows build to v. 1.2. Mainly narrative and bug fixes, and some minor gameplay changes. Other builds are pending!

Update 26.2.2016

WE ARE GREENLIT!!

Thank you so much for all of your support, help, social-mediafying shares...all that good stuff. :) We're going on Steeeaaaaaam! (and of course staying right here on Itch as well for y'all who prefer the fully-DRM free route!)

Update 4.3.2016

And now we're available on Steam as well (with achievements, woo)! -> free to play, natch. Check it out, you who enjoy having all your games in a nice pile. --> The Bottom of the Well on Steam

Art: Natasha Bulatovic-Trygg
Text/design: Petter Skult
Music/sound: Jussi Elsilä