Dead Cells has captivated the hearts of gamers with its challenging gameplay, fluid action, and the rewarding sense of progression it offers. As someone who has navigated the treacherous corridors of this rogue-like metroidvania, I’ve been on the lookout for games that evoke a similar thrill. The genre, rich with innovation and excitement, has seen many titles that stand on par with the experience Dead Cells provides. From intricate level designs to punishing combat systems, each game on this list has been personally tested and has left an indelible mark on my gaming journey. Here are the 10 best games like Dead Cells that I’ve played and can recommend for those in search of that familiar adrenaline rush.
Update Notice: This article was updated in June 2024, this article provides the most current information for game enthusiasts. We’re here to keep you updated with the coolest new releases. Get ready to explore a world full of thrilling, action-packed games with us!
1. Slay The Spire
Slay the Spire is an innovative roguelike deck-building game developed by MegaCrit. Players ascend a spire filled with a plethora of enemies and bosses, strategically crafting and adapting their decks to survive the challenges each level presents. The game combines card game mechanics with turn-based strategy, allowing for a high degree of customization and replayability. With its unique blend of genres, Slay the Spire has garnered a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim for its deep gameplay and inventive design.
Features:
- Four characters with unique card decks
- Hundreds of cards to collect and strategies to master
- Dynamic deck building with each playthrough
- Procedurally generated levels and encounters
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Steam
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Roguelike, Deck-building
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9.5/10
- Story/Content: 7/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 9.5/10
- Overall Rating: 8.5/10
2. Gunfire Reborn
Gunfire Reborn is an adventure level-based game that combines FPS, roguelite, and RPG elements. Players control heroes with various abilities to conquer procedurally generated levels, facing hordes of diverse enemies and challenging bosses. The game emphasizes cooperation, allowing for solo or multiplayer modes with up to four players. Its distinct cartoon art style and deep customization system add layers of strategy and replayability, making each run unique and engaging.
Features:
- Co-op mode for up to four players
- A variety of characters with unique abilities
- Randomly generated levels and enemies
- A vast arsenal of weapons and items
Release Date: November 18, 2021
Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Steam
Age Group: Teen
Genre: First-Person Shooter, Roguelite
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9/10
- Story/Content: 7/10
- Multiplayer Experience: 9/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 9/10
- Overall Rating: 8.3/10
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3. Inscryption
Inscryption is a dark, twisted card game that blends deck-building mechanics with escape room-style puzzles and psychological horror elements. Developed by Daniel Mullins Games, it offers a unique narrative that unfolds through mysterious circumstances, where players must strategize and solve riddles to progress. The game’s distinctive aesthetic and unsettling atmosphere, combined with its innovative gameplay, have garnered critical acclaim, making it a standout title in the indie gaming scene. Intriguing and immersive, Inscryption challenges players not just strategically, but mentally, peeling back layers of the story with each card played.
Features:
- Unique card-based gameplay with a twist
- Escape-room style puzzles
- A dark, evolving narrative
- Metafictional elements that break the fourth wall
Release Date: October 19, 2021
Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, Steam
Age Group: Mature
Genre: Card Game, Horror, Puzzle
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8.5/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9.5/10
- Story/Content: 9/10
- Sound & Music: 9/10
- Replayability: 8/10
- Overall Rating: 8.8/10
4. FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL: Faster Than Light is a real-time strategy game developed by indie studio Subset Games. Released in 2012, it captivates players with its rogue-like elements and spaceship simulation, where every journey through the galaxy is fraught with danger and decision-making. Players must manage their crew, upgrade their ship, and fend off enemy attacks while exploring a randomly generated universe. The game is renowned for its challenging gameplay and the ability to create unique, narrative-driven experiences with each playthrough.
Features:
- Ship management and crew allocation
- Tactical space combat
- Randomly generated galaxy with unique encounters
- Multiple ship layouts and unlockables
Release Date: September 14, 2012
Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, iPad, Steam
Age Group: Everyone 10+
Genre: Real-time Strategy, Roguelike
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 7.5/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9/10
- Story/Content: 7/10
- Sound & Music: 9/10
- Replayability: 10/10
- Overall Rating: 8.5/10
5. The Binding of Isaac
The Binding of Isaac is a roguelike indie game developed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl. Players control Isaac, a young boy who navigates through his monster-filled basement to escape his mother’s zealot intent on sacrificing him. The game combines randomized dungeons, a plethora of power-ups, and a darkly comedic storyline. Its success has spurred several expansions and a dedicated fan base, captivated by its challenging gameplay and thematic depth.
Features:
- Randomly generated dungeons
- Over 600 different items to collect
- Multiple endings based on choices and discoveries
- Dark and twisted themes
Release Date: September 28, 2011
Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Steam
Age Group: Mature
Genre: Action, Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 8.5/10
- Story/Content: 8/10
- Multiplayer Experience: 7/10
- Sound & Music: 8.5/10
- Replayability: 9/10
- Overall Rating: 8.2/10
6. Risk of Rain 2
Risk of Rain 2 is an exhilarating multiplayer roguelike game that combines fast-paced shooting with an ever-evolving environment. As players progress through diverse levels, they encounter a multitude of enemies, collect powerful items, and unlock new characters, each offering unique gameplay styles. The game’s hallmark is its scaling difficulty system, which intensifies the challenge as time progresses. This creates a dynamic gaming experience where strategy and quick decision-making are key to survival.
Features:
- Multiplayer co-op for up to four players
- An array of characters with unique abilities
- Procedurally generated levels and enemies
- Loot system that rewards risk-taking
Release Date: August 11, 2020
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, Steam
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9/10
- Story/Content: 7/10
- Multiplayer Experience: 9/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 9/10
- Overall Rating: 8.3/10
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7. Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb is a unique indie game that blends action, strategy, and dark humor within a rogue-like framework. Players assume the role of a possessed lamb saved from annihilation by an ominous stranger, and in return, must build and lead a cult in a mystical land. The gameplay involves dungeon crawling, resource management, and making moral choices that affect the narrative and follower loyalty. Its whimsical art style contrasts sharply with its dark themes, offering an engaging and thought-provoking experience. This game has garnered attention for its inventive mechanics and captivating storytelling.
Features:
- Cult management mechanics
- Roguelike combat and exploration
- Unique art style and darkly comedic tone
- Resource management and base building
Release Date: August 11, 2022
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Age Group: Mature
Genre: Action, Adventure, Roguelike, Simulation
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8.5/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 8/10
- Story/Content: 8/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 8.5/10
- Overall Rating: 8.2/10
8. Have a Nice Death
Have a Nice Death is a charming yet challenging 2D action-adventure game developed by Magic Design Studios. In the game, players assume the role of Death, the overworked CEO of Death Inc., who must regain control of his unruly employees. With its hand-drawn art style and fluid animation, the game combines humor and dark fantasy elements, offering an engaging experience filled with deadly weapons, spells, and a variety of monstrous minions. Its rogue-like elements ensure each playthrough is unique, appealing to gamers who enjoy strategic combat and quirky storytelling.
Features:
- Hand-drawn art and animation
- Fast-paced, fluid combat system
- A variety of weapons and spells to master
- Dark humor infused with corporate satire
Release Date: March 22, 2023
Platforms: PC, Steam
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Action, Platformer, Roguelike
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 8.5/10
- Story/Content: 7.5/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 8/10
- Overall Rating: 8/10
9. Skul: The Hero Slayer
Skul: The Hero Slayer is an engaging 2D action platformer developed by SouthPAW Games. The game stands out by reversing the typical hero-villain dynamic, casting players as Skul, a diminutive skeleton on a quest to rescue his demon king from heroic captors. With its rogue-like elements, the game offers a dynamic combat experience where players can swap Skul’s abilities by changing his skull. Each playthrough provides new challenges and combinations, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting. The pixel art style and challenging boss fights add to its charm and appeal.
Features:
- Dynamic skull-switching mechanic with over 100 characters
- Challenging boss battles
- Pixel art style with smooth animations
- Roguelike elements with procedurally generated maps
Release Date: January 21, 2021
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Action, Platformer, Roguelike
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 8/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 8.5/10
- Story/Content: 7/10
- Sound & Music: 8/10
- Replayability: 8.5/10
- Overall Rating: 8/10
10. Hades
Hades is a critically acclaimed rogue-like dungeon crawler developed by Supergiant Games, which masterfully blends Greek mythology with fast-paced action and rich storytelling. Players control Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the Underworld, facing various foes and gods along the way. Each escape attempt is different thanks to dynamically changing rooms and powerful boons from Olympian gods, enhancing replayability. The game is celebrated for its compelling voice acting, vibrant art style, and deep character development, making every run both challenging and enthralling.
Features:
- Hack-and-slash combat with a variety of weapons
- Deep narrative interwoven with gameplay
- Beautifully hand-drawn art style
- Voice acting that brings characters to life
Release Date: September 17, 2020
Platforms: PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler
Rating:
- Graphics/Visuals: 9/10
- Gameplay Mechanics: 9.5/10
- Story/Content: 9/10
- Sound & Music: 9/10
- Replayability: 10/10
- Overall Rating: 9.3/10
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Conclusion
The search for games like Dead Cells can lead to a treasure trove of challenging adventures, each with its unique twist on the genre. The titles listed above have not only provided me with hours of engaging gameplay but have also pushed me to refine my skills and strategies, much like Dead Cells did. Whether it’s the haunting depths of Hallownest in Hollow Knight or the ever-changing halls of Rogue Legacy’s castle, there’s a rich variety of experiences waiting to be explored. Each game has been a journey worth taking, and I’m confident they will offer fellow gamers the same level of challenge and excitement that Dead Cells delivers.
