Editor Reviews

You're not given much time to breathe in Dead Cells, and that's good. The game throws you into a shapeshifting island full of tight corridors, unpredictable enemies, and traps that punish carelessness. Every run starts with a strange blob possessing a dead body and setting off with only a broken weapon and bad odds. The rest is up to you — adapt fast or get sent back to the start.

It plays like a 2D action platformer with fast-paced sword-and-magic combat and procedurally generated levels. The moment-to-moment action feels smooth and responsive. You roll, dodge, parry, and swing through rooms, each slightly different from the last. One run might hand you a fire grenade and a giant sword; the next, a bow that bleeds enemies on impact and a turret that lays waste from a distance. No two runs feel the same.

Dead Cells has no story shoved in your face. You'll find bits of world-building in background notes and subtle interactions, but nothing slows the pace. The game doesn't care much if you understand what's going on; weirdly, that works in its favor.

There's a natural loop here. You collect "cells" from fallen enemies and use them to unlock permanent upgrades between deaths. You'll die — often — but each time feels like progress. Better weapons. New abilities. A teleporter here. A secret passage there. Eventually, you improve through statistics and learning the game's rhythm.

Bosses are hard, aggressive, and don’t mess around. Fighting them feels personal. You can’t brute force your way through. You must read patterns, react quickly, and stay calm even when the screen fills with danger. It’s frustrating, but when you win, it feels earned.

The visuals are sharp, detailed pixel art with fluid animation. Lighting and color shift depending on the area, giving every biome its mood. The soundtrack matches that — quiet, almost creepy in safe zones, then suddenly heavy and intense during combat.

This isn’t a game that explains itself. It just throws you in and lets you figure things out. For people who like experimenting, exploring, and learning through failure, Dead Cells nails it.

How to Play?

Step 1: Launch Dead Cells and select your weapon loadout. You start with a melee and ranged option. Choose what fits your play style.

Step 2: Move using the left stick or arrows. Jump with one button, roll with another. Rolling avoids damage. Practice it often.

Step 3: Slash enemies using your melee weapon. Use ranged tools like bows, grenades, or traps to soften them up. Combat is fast, and timing matters.

Step 4: Explore each biome fully. Look for scrolls that boost your stats (Brutality, Tactics, Survival). Choose one to increase your damage and health.

Step 5: Collect cells from enemies. Spend them between levels to unlock new gear and permanent upgrades. You lose them if you die before reaching a checkpoint.

Step 6: Don’t rush unless you want time-locked doors. The game rewards speed and caution equally. Choose what fits your run.

Step 7: Experiment with gear. Some weapons freeze enemies, while others burn them. Combine effects for powerful synergies.

Step 8: Bosses appear after certain biomes. Learn patterns, dodge attacks, and hit back at the right time. Dying resets the run, but you keep unlocked items.