Dead Cells is a full-version action game with sci-fi themes where death is not the end. Developed by Motion Twin and published by Playdigious, this roguelike-Metroidvania game features a challenging platformer experience with progressive exploration in a procedurally-generated map, frantic 2D combat, and the constant threat of permadeath.

Players get to be in the shoes of an amorphous creature who is now out to discover the secrets lying beneath a mysterious island. Dead Cells has colorful 2D graphics and engages players in classic combat. It is a fun and casual game with easy mechanics and controls.

Bust out again and again

Dead Cells takes place in an ever-changing castle on an island. You play as the Prisoner, an immortal slime-like creature that takes control of a corpse. To escape the castle dungeons, you must fight your way out against dangerous monsters and eventually beat boss enemies called Keepers. Unfortunately, your body can easily be killed—which means quickly losing all your collected items. Luckily, constant resurrection means you can learn how to defeat your opponents. 

The gameplay consists of killing enemies, traversing areas, collecting cells to unlock permanent power-ups, learning your enemies’ patterns, dying, and resurrecting. The permadeath system here is slightly similar to Dark Souls, but its interconnected world design delivers high replayability. You can approach the game any way you want—either explore every area, pass through specific paths that suit your current playstyle, or just rush through the monsters.

The indie title boasts a vastly revamped interface. There are now two game modes: Original and Auto-Hit. The latter simply takes care of the melee attacks. You have touchscreen controls—like swiping to dodge—and custom options that you can adjust—like the buttons’ position and size on the screen. These have icons that easily tell you what they’re for. You can also use external controllers. Plus, there are daily challenges available, if you’ve beaten the game.

One of the best things about the game is that it continuously updates and provides downloadable content (DLC) to expand the gameplay and keep it interesting enough. Fresh collections of biomes, monsters, and weapons are being offered almost at a regular pace for you to give a whirl. In Return to Castlevania DLC, your main goal is to overcome the Ruler of Darkness alongside Alucard and Richter Belmont. It comes with two biomes, nine monsters, 14 weapons, and three bosses, all inspired by Transylvanian folklore.

Feel alive

Overall, Dead Cells offers a challenging but fun adventure experience for players looking for a fresh take on the rougelike genre. For a game with an undead and decapitated main character, it is quite lively but can end up being monotonous without the DLCs. There is a lot to do in gameplay, with never-ending movement, interesting concepts, and challenging obstacles and enemies ready to make an entrance.