Dead Cells

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 293 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 211 out of 293
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 293
  3. Negative: 34 out of 293
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  1. zencube
    Nov 9, 2018
    7
    The gameplay itself is absolute great and highly addictive but does not compensate the massive lack of variety itself. There are only 4 bosses to fight and even you've got tons of weapons and stuff to slowly unlock, it just doesn't evaluate the time you'll spend playing. My strongest complain is the final boss, as it's way to hard to beat compared to the levels you run through before theThe gameplay itself is absolute great and highly addictive but does not compensate the massive lack of variety itself. There are only 4 bosses to fight and even you've got tons of weapons and stuff to slowly unlock, it just doesn't evaluate the time you'll spend playing. My strongest complain is the final boss, as it's way to hard to beat compared to the levels you run through before the final fight. And I personally HATE it, when I manage to complete all stages and finally having an A-Hole 5 times harder then the rest of the game! So, you play around one or two hours, just enter this final idiot and get kicked back to the beginning within a few seconds.

    Dear developer! Do you really expect your players to invest at least one hour of doing all those levels again and again, just to get fckd up by a boss within seconds, not even able to learn all the moves this thing does?! I finally ended up killing the game just after I died, so I could enter this boss fight right after starting the game again. And it took me many many attempts to kick his ass - if I would add an extra hour to every attempt, dudes, you certainly should consider changing something in your design! This unbalanced boss-fight(s) and also some random encounters who will kill you in just a few seconds are totally frustrating and imagine a dark souls, where you have to start allover at the FIRST bonfire....

    Maybe they'll add more content, and tweak some of the mechanics as well. For me, I'm done with the game as there's nothing left but browsing through the levels and being totally frustrated by the last boss - to complete the run! I did beat him twice, but it's just way too much time being wasted...    … Expand
  2. djdnauk
    Aug 10, 2018
    7
    funny how this game is rated lowest on PS4 despite its specs, its a great little game in the same vein as moonlighter, enter the gungeon, wizard of legend etc... maybe a little over hyped compared to the others! and i have no idea why there so much difference between review scores but id prefer all these games on switch just so you can play them in portable mode... dont think the PS4funny how this game is rated lowest on PS4 despite its specs, its a great little game in the same vein as moonlighter, enter the gungeon, wizard of legend etc... maybe a little over hyped compared to the others! and i have no idea why there so much difference between review scores but id prefer all these games on switch just so you can play them in portable mode... dont think the PS4 version deserves such low ratings compared to the others though, theres nothing wrong with it as such, if anything its only the switch version that should score higher because it is portable.… Expand
  3. ujinroth
    Aug 19, 2018
    5
    In my personal opinion this game is too short, not enough bosses (only 4), not enough interesting synergies between weapons, very repetitive stages configurations. All of it makes me think it really was a metroidvania project that they turned into a roguelite only because of it's low content. Giving an 8 is way too much for half of a game.
  4. Goo4you
    Aug 10, 2018
    5
    To give an even (but of course downvoted to oblivion) look on Dead Cells, I can sum it up only as such:

    Change the title to "Gameplay: the game that is all about the gameplay." I need more from a video game than simple tight controls, combat, loot collection. For me, all those things are tools to be used for making a quality video game. If your game though is nothing but solid    To give an even (but of course downvoted to oblivion) look on Dead Cells, I can sum it up only as such:

    Change the title to "Gameplay: the game that is all about the gameplay."

    I need more from a video game than simple tight controls, combat, loot collection. For me, all those things are tools to be used for making a quality video game. If your game though is nothing but solid gameplay and lacks ANYTHING else (and don't give me there's a story here, there isn't. There's an excuse), then it's a tech demo devs use to sell a project.

    Dead Cells is a tech demo for an actual video game.

    Somehow either the devs have regressed into the 80's mindset of game design (hard, simple premise, focus on the mechanics) or we the audience have just given up and will play anything in front of us new that's shiny.

    If you want to play a game where the most significant feat is button pressing, Dead Cells is for you. If though you are holding out for games with content beyond mechanics, wait for something else.    … Expand
  5. Cells_R_Dead
    Aug 7, 2018
    5
    Those people who claim this game to be in the same category as the Souls series are clearly mistaken.That's why is bought it.DC are nothing like them.Why? well you get to keep your loot in DS for one. Sure you die a lot. But all the buffs and upgrades you get to keep on the easier difficulties. Just like the gear you find along the way. This gives you the incentive to replay over and overThose people who claim this game to be in the same category as the Souls series are clearly mistaken.That's why is bought it.DC are nothing like them.Why? well you get to keep your loot in DS for one. Sure you die a lot. But all the buffs and upgrades you get to keep on the easier difficulties. Just like the gear you find along the way. This gives you the incentive to replay over and over again. DC does not. Personally i don't mind the grinding part. What i don't like is that i don't get to keep anything that i find if i die. And does a small game like this even need loading time? Com on!. The souls games are one of its kind. Nothing will ever be like them. And when it comes to DC its ok at best. Personally i regret buying it. They should have made it possible to play a demo before you purchase. To me this game just feel like you are rewarded for speedruns not for time spent on exploration. The developers should have taken the guys that love spending time exploring every nook and cranny into account as well. Made it possible to choose like a exploration-mode. Cause i don't care about achievements or timed records. No i've spent 20$ on this game so naturally i want the fun part as well.Now Im certain this was all in vein cause i'm not going to finish it as it's not really that much fun. I've finished all the souls games and Bloodborne as well.Those games are worth every penny. One more thing that i feel is important with my time is that i can save my progress. Not everyone has the luxury to spend or waste 10ths of hours just to get to the next level. Its a shame that a gorgeous game like this ache so much. Be aware. This is not like the Souls Series!… Expand
  6. Red-Eyes
    Oct 7, 2020
    6
    First things first: this game is a roguelike action game, it has no elements to be called a metroidvania (go watch Ingenious Clown ytube video about it if you wanna know more). With that out of the way the action sections (the combat) are awesome! It's a constant barrage of enemies and the adrenaline rush is surreal when your reflex skills are tested everytime, there are so many weapons,First things first: this game is a roguelike action game, it has no elements to be called a metroidvania (go watch Ingenious Clown ytube video about it if you wanna know more). With that out of the way the action sections (the combat) are awesome! It's a constant barrage of enemies and the adrenaline rush is surreal when your reflex skills are tested everytime, there are so many weapons, sub-weapons and weapon types that the combat never feels old; the very nature of a roguelike might force you to choose a different tool for the job each run making it fresh every time.
    But the roguelike aspect is also the main flaw. The idea of a random generated level is **** Instead of having a thoughtful level design with good platforming and stuff you just gonna charge a random algorithm to do the job instead. That's ludicrous! As a result the levels are boring, the platforming is super flat and besides the excellent combat there is nothing else.
    I also dislike having only 4 bosses. In a game like this there should be a boss at the end of each level.
    I finished the game once but I have no desire to complete the weaponry, get every item let alone getting platinum and the random level design is the sole reason why    … Expand
  7. Eyes_Grim
    Jan 26, 2021
    5
    At first, the game appeared to be addictive and promising, but over time I noticed you can only happen to 6 short levels and 3 bosses per run.
    Graphics is really poor, soundtracks are disappointing
    There is no way you can carry over your gear and abilities to a successive run. The lack of checkpoint system also induces unnecessary stress. It is an alright title if you catch it on sale, but    At first, the game appeared to be addictive and promising, but over time I noticed you can only happen to 6 short levels and 3 bosses per run.
    Graphics is really poor, soundtracks are disappointing
    There is no way you can carry over your gear and abilities to a successive run. The lack of checkpoint system also induces unnecessary stress.
    It is an alright title if you catch it on sale, but definately not worth it at full price.    … Expand
  8. Crysouls
    Dec 2, 2022
    7
    Prós:
    - Jogabilidade
    - Direção de arte - Level design - Diversidade de armas - Muito conteúdo adicionado por att Contras: - Progressão extremamente lenta - Repetição massiva/exaustiva - Trilha sonora Conclusão: Roguelike divertido porém sua progressão lenta atrapalha bastante a vontade de seguir com game, após minha primeira run bem sucedida e varias repetições em sequencia    Prós:
    - Jogabilidade
    - Direção de arte
    - Level design
    - Diversidade de armas
    - Muito conteúdo adicionado por att

    Contras:
    - Progressão extremamente lenta
    - Repetição massiva/exaustiva
    - Trilha sonora

    Conclusão: Roguelike divertido porém sua progressão lenta atrapalha bastante a vontade de seguir com game, após minha primeira run bem sucedida e varias repetições em sequencia enfrentando os mesmos inimigos, sem um enredo que sustente a jornada e motive o jogador como em Hades, vejo dead cells como um bom jogo com diversas armas e formas de derrotar os inimigos, varios upgrades para progressão mas o meio de se alcançar toda essa vasta diversidade de gameplay é cansativa, diria que o jogo é ótimo para poucas runs mas pra quem procura repetição atrás de repetição se torna enjoativo e pouco recompensador, no geral é um excelente roguelike porém com uma execução contraditória a proposta do gênero.    … Expand
  9. Burattix54
    Jun 26, 2020
    6
    It is a good Rouguelike, but I didn't enjoy it much. It is hard, I get it. It took me a while to complete it the first time. The scaling after that point is, however, ridiculous. At only 2 boss cells the first floor gets invaded by endgame enemies which teleport, fly, go invisible, and ALWAYS oneshot you, etc... And there's like 7 of them per room. It feels like artificial difficultyIt is a good Rouguelike, but I didn't enjoy it much. It is hard, I get it. It took me a while to complete it the first time. The scaling after that point is, however, ridiculous. At only 2 boss cells the first floor gets invaded by endgame enemies which teleport, fly, go invisible, and ALWAYS oneshot you, etc... And there's like 7 of them per room. It feels like artificial difficulty because this game has dozens of mechanics which involve never being hit in 60+ minute runs, such as taking away almost all of your healing potions at higher difficulties. It's way too much, it requires speedrunner levels of precision and reflexes just to get to the last ending, which also blocks off most of the DLC's.

    Also, little note, the bosses aren't as great as, for example, hollow knight. They are kinda spammy and annoying, and there's very few of them.

    I almost never get annoyed by hard games, actually I love them, but just finishing this game is harder then the DmC5 platinum. I didn't get past the third BC    … Expand
  10. Yojimbo2015
    Jan 25, 2023
    7
    Visually sumptuous rogue-like 2D platformer with gorgeous retro graphics and loads of power-ups and secrets to discover.

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PS4 Game of 2018
50
#50 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018
41
#41 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Digital Trends
    Jan 23, 2019
    80
    Dead Cells is frenetism in its purest form, and one of the few games in the genre that can grant a sense of progression and skill in the first few minutes, without demanding a grind from the player or a slow-paced levelling system. It takes you in with a powerful soundtrack and a gorgeous visual style, but it’s the combat and how quick and responsive the controls are that make it stand out from the rest.
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  2. Gamers Heroes
    Aug 23, 2018
    90
    Dead Cells sets an example for the rest of the industry as far as Metroidvanias are concerned. If Dead Cells sounds even remotely interesting to you, pick it up and give it a go.
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  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Aug 23, 2018
    90
    You often learn by dying, yet this somehow never feels unfair. Compelling and endlessly replayable, the quality of Dead Cells is unlikely to cause division among your friends. [Issue#153, p.94]
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