Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Reviews

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10
Mar 13, 2023

If you liked Dead Cells, it's a no-brainer that you must get the Return to Castlevania DLC as soon as possible. It may be brief, but this is a brilliantly intense and nostalgic trip to a spookier world that fits in well with the broader offering of content in the base game. This feels like it's primarily made for Dead Cells fans who also happen to like Castlevania - it's unlikely to convert Castlevania aficionados who don't get on with Motion Twin's roguelite. At any rate, we loved it and it's great to see Castlevania back in video games again. Let's hope that Konami takes notice and opts to give us a full revival soon.

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 6, 2023

Return to Castlevania is, hands down, Dead Cells’ best expansion yet, and it’s not even close. This isn’t to say that its previous add-ons have been lackluster, as every update to the game has only served to help flesh it out even further. Dead Cells continues to be one of the very best rogue-lite games that have released in the past decade, and this just further cements its place as an outstanding entry in the saturated genre.

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Mar 6, 2023

I can't imagine a finer tribute to Castlevania than this incredible DLC. Easily accessible to new Dead Cells players and brimming with content, this left us hoping that Konami will turn Motion Twin loose on a brand new whip-cracking, Drac-smashing adventure.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 14, 2023

The crossover of my dreams is made exactly like Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, an expansion that embellishes the formula of the base game by incorporating a massive dose of references and content taken from one of the most beloved videogame sagas of all time.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a glorious mash-up of two incredible franchises and it's simply sublime. Whether you're a long-time fan of Dead Cells or a newcomer like me, this is a meaty Castlevania expansion you can really sink your teeth into.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is the dream DLC I never knew I wanted for one of my favorite games of the past decade.  It’s full of content that is all of supremely high quality. Whether you own the game outright or play it on Game Pass if any of this sounds the least bit appealing then spend $10 on this expansion.  It is phenomenal.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 14, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is the best DLC that has been published for dead cells so far and of the best DLCs of all time. from challenge boss fights to unique atmosphere, it's almost perfect. The only thing that I found a bit disappointing was its extremely short length that doesn't justify its price tag.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a must-buy for any fans of Dead Cells or Castlevania, it's a breath of fresh air for those who have played the base Dead Cells in the past, plus the music is fantastic!

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2023

Dead Cells was always compared to Castlevania, and having the two meet in this way with such reverence on the part of Motion Twin is weirdly heartwarming.

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10 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2023

Unsurprisingly, the combination of Dead Cells and Castlevania proves to be nostalgic and truly fantastic in this paid DLC Package

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Mar 6, 2023

For people who have been playing Dead Cells routinely since launch, Return to Castlevania offers a cathartic experience akin to your favorite author reading you their favorite book. For new players who love games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but haven't yet tried Dead Cells, there has never been a better time.

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10 / 10
Mar 8, 2023

If you’re a Castlevania fan who hasn’t played this game for some reason, you owe it to yourself to buy this now. And even if you’re not, it’s still more super high-quality content for an awesome game that clearly is standing the test of time, made with clear and demonstrated love by independent developers, and you should buy it anyway.

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IGN
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a shining blueprint of how to do a crossover right, celebrating Castlevania's history while mixing it with Dead Cells’ own identity to make something that’s more than the sum of its already excellent parts.

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Unscored
Mar 6, 2023
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania | Review in 3 Minutes - YouTube video thumbnail
Unscored
Mar 6, 2023

I’ve been enjoying Dead Cells since it first launched, and thus far I’ve been thrilled about Return to Castlevania. It’s one of the most polished and well executed of the game’s post-launch content. Castlevania fans, too, have plenty to swoon over, with numerous series references and large handful of unlockable costumes to discover, letting you explore Dead Cells as mainstays like Alucard, Richter, and Death itself. All we can hope is that this lays the groundwork for Motion Twin to pair up with other long-dormant franchises for similar passion projects. The Bubble Bobble x Dead Cells mashup is just begging to be made.

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Recommended
Mar 6, 2023

In what feels like a match made in hell, Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania provides a beautiful love letter to Konami’s iconic series while adding something new to the mix

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Worth your time
Mar 6, 2023

Return to Castlevania fits in perfectly with the rest of Dead Cells, and it’s easily the best crossover you’ll get to experience this year. You can stake your bet at that!

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Essential
Mar 6, 2023

Dead Cells is already a masterful game with precision gameplay, visuals, and music, but Return to Castlevania not only highlights these fantastic features but elevates everything with the addition of the Castlevania franchise. The 6-8 hour quest is an absolute delight from start to finish, and just like the original Dead Cells, the loop is drawing me back in for one more vampiric-infested run…

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A
Mar 24, 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania may not break new ground, but it is a lovingly made ode to an iconic series that has long remained dormant. The new biomes, bosses, weapons, enemies, and story content are all the highest quality, and Dead Cells remains an essential roguelike that still stands among its peers at the top of the genre.

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