Dead Cells review

Dead Cells is for players who want 2D action they can pick up for half an hour. Motion Twin calls it a roguelite, metroidvania-inspired action-platformer: you control a failed alchemic experiment that takes over bodies to explore a cursed island and an ever-changing castle. There are no checkpoints, so you beat the final boss in one go or start over, but new paths, levels, mutations, abilities and weapons stay unlocked between runs. The combat is quick and responsive, with an emergency roll for escapes. Steam lists Workshop support, full controller support and modest requirements of 2 GB of RAM and 500 MB of storage. 96% of nearly 45,000 English reviews are positive. Players who dislike repeating areas should look elsewhere, since restarting is the core loop, and there is no multiplayer. At $24.99, it costs more than Hollow Knight or Celeste, which is why it ranks below them.

Who it is for

Players who want fast combat in short runs, with a new layout every time.

Price

$24.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat. $24.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Roguelite structure with permadeath and no checkpoints
• Interconnected world with branching paths
• Unlockable levels, mutations, abilities and weapons that persist
• Emergency roll and responsive 2D combat
• Steam Workshop support

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 96% of 44,876 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Runs on 2 GB of RAM and needs only 500 MB of storage
• Strength: Each run is short, so it suits limited play time
• Weakness: Permadeath means you restart the whole run when you die
• Weakness: Repetition is part of the design
• Weakness: Single-player only

Key facts

• Developer: Motion Twin
• Price: $24.99
• Steam reviews: 96% of 44,876 (English)
• Released: August 6, 2018
• Storage: 500 MB

Where it ranks

Dead Cells is No. 5 in our Best 2D Games verdict.