Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a 2D style side scrolling Metroidvania and Roguelike video game. It was worked on by the French worker co-op Motion Twin and the company Evil Empire and released around 2018. It was published for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Android, and iOS devices.

The game starts with a ball of slime falling from a ceiling in a prison and occupying a beheaded prisoner. From there a human ushers the prisoner out of their cell. From there they delve into a hostile dungeon.

The game has a website here, and a Steam page here.

• Bat Out of Hell: Large bats can be encountered as enemies in the Castlevania section.
• Blob Monster: What the player character appears to be before they take over a body.
• Body Horror: The imagery of the green mass entering the body when the player character starts out or respawns is not pleasant.
• Crossover: With Castlevania in the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Downloadable Content pack.
• Dem Bones: Skeletons are encountered as enemies in the Castlevania section.
• Die, Chair, Die!: Doors are often opened by breaking them down.
• Double Jump: The player character can jump one more after their first leap into the air.
• Dungeon Shop: Players can encounter this while exploring, with a shopkeeper welcoming the player and a small selection of items laid out.
• Harping on About Harpies: Harpies can be fought as enemies in the Castlevania section.
• Hit Points: 100 is the default for the player character, though they can be upgraded.
• Inexplicable Treasure Chests: These can be found in the dungeon.
• Jump Physics: The player character can adjust their jump slightly midair.
• Level Map Display: One is displayed in the corner of the screen.
• Life Meter: The player can see one on the top left hand side of the screen.
• Metroidvania: Bills itself as a "Roguevania", combining aspects of a Metroidvania and a Roguelike. In this case the overall moment to moment gameplay is reminiscent of a Metroidvania.
• Multi-Platform: Released across a variety of computers, game consoles, and smartphones.
• Rewarding Vandalism: Some items can be broken for a reward.
• Roguelike: Bills itself as a "Roguevania", combining aspects of a Roguelike and a Metroidvania. Cells are lost on a game over. Some upgrades can help mitigate the loss of items when restarting.
• Scenery Porn: The game has well done pixel style art enhanced by impressive dynamic real time lighting techniques to make the dungeon environment more interesting.
• Spikes of Doom: Spikes present a hazard when traversing the Castlevania section.
• Virtual Paper Doll: Outfits can be changed at the tailor.
• When All Else Fails Go Right: Most progression occurs by traveling to the right, at least near the start.