Is Dead Cells worth playing in 2023?

Will the new Return to Castlevania DLC resurrect this metroidvania? Is Dead Cells worth playing in 2023?

Background

This roguelite metroidvania may have been dropped back in 2018, but it’s recently risen from the grave with some new Castlevania DLC. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Dead Cells is a pixelated indie metroidvania with roguelite elements. It was extremely well received on release and has won some awards. Speaking in very broad terms, you play as a booger that takes over a corpse. Fight your way through a variety of biomes, and prepare to die a whole bunch.

What does Dead Cells do well?

This game throws a ton at you: collectibles, cosmetics, customization options, etc. It’s a veritable buffet of offerings that will keep players hooked. There is a wealth of accessibility options that should be more common in games.

What could Dead Cells do better?

Dead Cells does nearly everything well, but there are a few things that new players should know. I wouldn’t call any of these features downsides per se, but they may factor in to your purchasing decision.

First, if you’re into story, this is not for you. While there are some narrative elements, Dead Cells is primarily focused on the gameplay loop.

The second is permadeath. There’s a lot of carryover between runs, so you aren’t wasting your time, but I empathize; having a good run get cut short by some boss bullshit is frustrating.

Lastly, despite this being a metroidvania, exploration isn’t the focus here. Don’t both leaping at corners to completely explore a room. The game wants you to go fast, and doors will close (literally, not metaphorically) if you don’t get through sections quickly enough.

Was Dead Cells fun?

Is Dead Cells good value?

Much of the playtime is chalked up to the learning curve and your proficiency. If you enjoy the gameplay loop, then it’s easy to while away the hours.

Is the Dead Cells DLC worth it?

The DLC situation looks a bit overwhelming at first glance. Here’s the breakdown, taken from Wikipedia.

Rise of the Giant is free, and adds an additional ending. The rest of them add more content in the form of biomes and bosses. Currently, there isn’t a complete physical edition, but the DLC (with the exception of Castlevania) has gone on sale. The DLC is good, especially Castlevania, but if you’re new to Dead Cells then I would recommend starting with the base game and then picking up the DLC if you decide you’re in it for the long haul.

Incidentally, Castlevania vets will probably enjoy the remixes of iconic tunes, as well all the outfits and weapons.

Who is this game for?

This game is for fans of action roguelites. Metroidvania stans will likely enjoy it but may not be as excited about the lack of focus on exploration.

Is Dead Cells worth playing in 2023?

You can certainly do worse than joining the ranks of the 5 million who have already purchased this game. The previously released DLC goes on sale regularly, but it might be a while before the Castlevania set sees a discount. There isn’t currently a complete physical edition, but I would expect to see one eventually.

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