Dead Cells

 PC
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. RPG Fan
    Sep 10, 2018
    70
    Dead Cells is an absolute blast when the stars align, but that only happens every four or five runs. Everything else feels like a waste of time. I truly don't understand the phenomenon behind this game. Compared to its ilk, Dead Cells is just less.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Aug 6, 2018
    Blisteringly fast when it needs to be, challenging without being frustrating, and packed with sharp, fatal toys, Dead Cells doesn’t keep you on your toes, it keeps you on your toenails.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2018
26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
29
#29 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 734 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 585 out of 734
  2. Mixed: 101 out of 734
  3. Negative: 48 out of 734
  1. Mizuru
    Aug 10, 2018
    10
    If you're an oldschool gamer whose like pixel art, you will become completely passionate for Dead Cells! It's a metroidvania-like game, withIf you're an oldschool gamer whose like pixel art, you will become completely passionate for Dead Cells! It's a metroidvania-like game, with randomized levels! (which is somekind innovative). The soudtrack is gorgeous as well for the graphics!

    Progression - 11 Impeccable level design.
    Soundtrack - 11 Really superb the amount of depth nuances of the soundtracks.
    Gameplay - 9 Such variety and nice mechanics like parry, evade and throwables.
    Graphics - 10 Retro pixel graphics very detailed, both landscapes and sprites.
    FunFactor - 8 Slow progression but it's fun and rewarding to play, each upgrade on the same criteria diminish the HP potential whose incourage the use of mixed set progression

    Final Score: 9.8/10
    One of the best games of 2018 for sure!    … Full Review »
  2. Vectis99
    Nov 30, 2018
    6
    Dead Cells is a fun and fast paced fighter/platformer which, while very satisfying to play, quickly grows repetitive and tiresome. The gameDead Cells is a fun and fast paced fighter/platformer which, while very satisfying to play, quickly grows repetitive and tiresome. The game recycles the same content repeatedly, and due to the very straightforward nature of the game, this repetition detracts from the value instead of adding to it. One of the ways Dead Cells tries to cover this up is through the incorporation of a sprawling unlock system; unfortunately, most of the unlocks don't add anything interesting to the game, especially since the in-run looting and progression is so mindless and bland. Item design and progression being weak force Dead Cells to rely on really one main thing to sustain attention, but this is something that it does extremely well: The dexterity element. Over the course of gameplay, Dead Cells regularly supplies the player with a string of dexterity-related challenges which are very satisfying and don't have too much down-time between them. This takes a fair bit longer than the rest of the game to get old, although it inevitably does as practice makes the fights progressively more mindless. Overall, Dead Cells can be fun for a few hours, but it isn't worth paying an especially high amount of attention to at the end of the day.… Full Review »
  3. fixpyburgh
    Aug 18, 2018
    4
    Alright, well I've played quite a few hours of this game. I have one main complaint here. When you're getting to the second or third levels itAlright, well I've played quite a few hours of this game. I have one main complaint here. When you're getting to the second or third levels it is pretty obvious that it's impossible to continue defeating enemies without permanent upgrades.

    The developers made it obvious that you're meant to die so many times to progress. It's really frustrating and takes away some control over how good you really do. One of the number one rules of making games is to not take away control from the player or make it feel like things are out of their control, this game breaks that rule.    … Full Review »
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