Dead Cells

The way the game infuses its roguelike elements with a deliberate linear design is brilliant, creating a sense of consistent forward momentum that you rarely see in its peers. This isn’t an experience which mostly relies on RNG for a good run, as you’re always in the driver’s seat building your character and navigating the interconnected world. Its moment-to-moment gameplay is pure gold, but the way the overarching game remains compelling after so many hours is its greatest feat.

Dead Cells is easily the best rogue-lite action-platformer game this gen. Developer Motion Twin’s care and attention to not only the game’s visual and audio detail, but its wonderfully developed multi-tiered systems, goes hand in glove to produce an outstanding experience throughout. The sheer amount of enemy, weaponry and functional variety within is as dizzying as it is impressive. Simply put, Dead Cells is epic.

Dead Cells is most certainly a difficult game. It’s not going to take it easy on you, and it can get brutal at times, especially when making no progress in runs. While the game pushes for a speed run playthrough for the best possible outcome, it is important to know that rushing into a level can easily ruin a run for you. The fun is in the combat without a doubt, and any action fan will have a great time with this one. Even if you don’t normally enjoy Rogue-like style game, this is one of those you have to pick up.

Dead Cells is rewarding in its flexibility in a way few games are. Each easily digestible run through its beautifully detailed and shifting levels instills a feeling of discovery and familiarity. It goads you to push the limits of your ability, and mercilessly crushes you when you get too comfortable. There are layers of strategy and tactics buried not only in the immediate choices you make, but in the grander metagame each run builds toward.

An impeccably crafted rogue-like adventure that feels genuinely unique in a crowded genre.

Tight action gameplay and beautiful sprite work make this an indie must-have. [Nov 2018, p.86]

Dead Cells is an excellent game that will challenge and delight seasoned roguelike addicts, yet Motion Twin has also made it accessible to newcomers. The combination of roguelite and metroidvania genres wraps the bitter pill of permadeath in a sweet coating of exploration, with a solid progression system and plenty of reward loops to help inexperienced players get into the game. Meanwhile expert players can speed run, ramp up the difficulty level and equip the gear and mutations designed for skilled users. Dying repeatedly has never felt this good.

Dead Cells is a pure gem, and it comes close to perfection. Top notch game design and super reactive playability are what will make you feel like playing it again and again, until death do you part.

An excellent bidimensional action game with exquisite artwork and very good control system. It could suck hours and hours of your time if you give it a chance (and you should).

Dead Cells is one of those games that you can't miss. Among the best titles of its genre. A true gem.

An excellent action platformer with a nice roguelike touch. A mix of Castlevania and Rogue Legacy that controls superb, entertains a lot and is as beautiful as deep on its gameplay side.

Dead Cells is a fascinating amalgam of several of today's most popular indie genres.

From progression to combat to its strange world filled with secrets to find and items to discover - Dead Cells is a game one could easily savour and come back to for months. And when compared to the classics that inspired its design, that’s just about the perfect outcome too.

Produced by a team of 11 youngsters, Dead Cells is a respectable title that really challenges multi-milion dollar AAA titles. If you are familiar with main elements of Rouge Like, you'll have an exciting 20+ hours waiting for you.

Dead Cells is a frantic and captivating side-scrolling action game, mixing elements from multiple genres and showcasing a great pixel-art design with fantastic animations and effects. Its procedurally generated levels might prove to be a bit too repetitive at times, but this is undoubtedly a game that'll keep lovers of metroidvania and action games entertained for many hours.

It’s a game that oozes charm out of every pore. A game that is challenging but does a good job of easing you in. And a game that is simply a joy to play because of its fluidity and the range of combat options available.