Dead Cells Reviews

Dead Cells is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10
Aug 6, 2018

Dead Cells is, at times, constrained by the genres it so heavily draws from, but its vibrant pixel art, furious combat, and rigorous execution make for a winning formula all its own.

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GamesBeat
Top Critic
98 / 100
Aug 6, 2018

Go out and get it for your Switch, PC, or whatever, and just play it.

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Unscored
Aug 8, 2018
Dead Cells - Dead Cellabration (Jimpressions) video thumbnail
9.5 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2018

Dead Cells is likely the defining point of the Roguelike genre, thanks to refined combat and clever blending of genres. Whether you are looking for a quick pick-up game or are wanting to get lost in a multi-hour gameplay loop, very few games can master their own genre so well as Dead Cells manages to do. Fan of Roguelikes or not, this is a game that shouldn't pass you by in 2018.

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Unscored
Dec 2, 2020

And as painful as the end of a run can be, “Dead Cells’” steady introduction of new mechanics made it easy for me to pine for one more go. In my view, that’s the hallmark of a successful arcade experience.

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Digital Trends
Diego Arguello
Top Critic
Jan 23, 2019

‘Dead Cells' is a chaotic, punishing, and rewarding indie game that cannot be missed.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 6, 2018

Dead Cells may not shift the genre's trajectory or implement roguelike mechanics in any new or inventive way, but it remains a consistently exciting and thrilling experience, even when you've seen that rapier for the fourth or fifth time. It's one of those games that's a joy to play, but even more importantly, a joy to watch because it teaches you the fundamental truth about roguelikes (and maybe life as a whole): let go. Once you learn to let go—or in Dead Cells's case, once you learn to let go of life—you'll find that it's about the experience of the moment, about that run right now. It's kind of like Bukowski's epitaph: If you don't try as hard, you'll enjoy Dead Cells much more. Because its in this nonchalance that the game's systems, however trite, slowly mend together in what can only be described as the perfect run. Before you forgot to dodge.

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90 / 100
Aug 6, 2018

Dead Cells is an amazing rogue-like 2D action platformer. Fast, fluid combat is enjoyable, especially with the different weapons and tools you can find.

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Guardian
Top Critic
Aug 20, 2018

Plunge into ingenious shifting labyrinths to battle lethal beasts, in the knowledge that every gory failure makes you stronger

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Aug 7, 2018

That the combat is so satisfying is the game's real boon, as without it the structure could lend itself to repetition.

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JVL
Rainbow-Twix
Top Critic
18 / 20
Aug 15, 2018

Dead Cells is a success story of its kind. Generous, addictive, fun and sometimes frustrating, the title has enough to take you dozens and dozens of hours without you tired as its mastered concept easily pushes to video game bulimia.

Review in French | Read full review

Sep 16, 2018

Dying repeatedly has never felt this good.

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M3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Dec 15, 2018

This is not only one of the best action game of 2018, it's a modern classic that gives new life to a genre that we thought was starting to fade away.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

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.

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9.2 / 10.0
Aug 16, 2018

Dead Cells is the ideal mix between metroidvania and roguelite, enhanced by a solid, fast and practically perfect arcade action, with a range of skills and weapons able to infuse a unique flavor to any adventure.

Review in Italian | Read full review

GameMAG
ACE
Top Critic
9 / 10
Aug 13, 2018

Dead Cells manages to perfectly combine several different genres and becomes one of the most important and interesting indie projects of 2018. Excellent mechanics, adequate balance of complexity, atmospheric locations, great level generation, nonlinearity and a huge number of all possible combinations of equipment make this game a must-buy. Especially if you like Metroid, The Binding of Isaac and Diablo.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Wccftech
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Aug 6, 2018

Dead Cells sets a high bar for what can be accomplished within the framework of a Metroidvania. Each randomly generated encounter feels like it was handcrafted for the player and are as challenging as they are rewarding.

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9 / 10
Aug 6, 2018

Dead Cells has raised the bar for the rogue-lite genre going forward.

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9.5 / 10.0
Aug 6, 2018

The best roguelike of this generation and a bonafide Game of the Year contender, Dead Cells is simply beyond peer and utterly, utterly essential for anyone that owns a black plastic box stuffed with silicon that has 'PS4' scrawled upon it.

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91 / 100
Aug 6, 2018

If tight, challenging combat, and infinite replayability in a charmingly depressing setting is your cup of tea, Dead Cells is the game for you.

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