Dead Cells is a roguelite Metroidvania game from Motion Twin and Evil Empire. The story follows a character named the Prisoner who is stuck in an island prison. Your main objective in the game is to kill the king of the island.
Some of the main inspirations for Dead Cells include Souls and The Binding of Isaac. If you’ve played Dead Cells, you’ll know that the environment in the game is full of charming landscapes, secret rooms, and hidden passages.
Are you looking for a game similar to Dead Cells? Well, you’re in luck because the following games are perfect for you. Here are the best 8 games like Dead Cells, including some from a few different subgenres and styles.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania game from Team Cherry that came out in 2017. You can play the game on Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The story is set in a world beneath the town of Dirtmouth. Here lies an ancient and forgotten kingdom called Hallownest. Many visit these ruins to search for riches and glory.
You take on the role of a nameless knight who goes on a quest to explore the ruins. You learn that Hallownest was once a prosperous kingdom that was ruined by a supernatural disease known as The Infection. You get to explore Hallownest to learn more about its history and what The Infection is.
As the knight, you have a sword that you use both to interact with the environment and defeat enemies. There are many enemies that you’ll face in the game. In close combat, you’ll use your sword to attack. You can also perform long-range attacks if you learn spells.
The game features classic side-scrolling action and a huge world that you’ll explore. Players have the freedom to choose how they’ll explore the world. The non-linear gameplay allows you to forge your own path. You can gain new abilities and powers in Hollow Knight by equipping ancient relics called charms.
Hollow Knight is a truly fantastic game, and it’s one of the best Metroidvania titles on the Switch. Fans of games like Dead Cells will love it.
Blasphemous
Blasphemous is a Metroidvania game from independent studio The Game Kitchen. The game came from a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017 and officially came out two years later. You can play Blasphemous on Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The story takes place in the fictional region of Cvstodia. There is a force called The Miracle that has fallen upon the region. The Miracle manifests in unusual ways and sometimes gives blessings to people. Other times, it curses people and turns them into horrific creatures.
You take on the role of a character known as the Penitent One. You’re a knight that always carries a sword called Mea Culpa. You are also the only survivor of the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow. The Penitent One has taken a vow of silence and always wears a mask and a helmet.
The land of Cvstodia is full of dangerous enemies you’ll have to defeat. You can use your sword for melee combat and perform spells for long-range attacks. You gain Fervour whenever you damage enemies with melee attacks. Fervour represents something similar to mana, for spell casting.
To progress in the game without dying too often, you will need to learn the attack pattern of every creature you encounter. This is the best way to dodge attacks and keep your health at a high level. If your health gets depleted, you will respawn in the last checkpoint you came across.
Vagante
Vagante is an action-adventure roguelike game from Nuke Nine that came out in 2014 and has been relatively under the radar ever since. The gameplay contains very interesting features that give Vagante a lot of replay value. You can play the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux, and Windows.
The game is set in a dark fantasy world that’s packed with monsters, bandits, and demons.
The story takes place after rumors of an uncharted cave beyond the edge of the woods start going around. Rumor has it that the cave contains treasure any person would love to get their hands on. Many adventurers have ventured into the cave but have never been seen since. Now it’s your turn to go into the cave and explore it.
There are five different character classes you can choose from. These include Knight, Mage, Houndmaster, Rogue, and Wildling. The class you choose will heavily impact the gameplay. Mages and Rogues attack in various ways, while Wildlings and Knights focus primarily on close combat. Houndmasters are the perfect choice if you enjoy a companion-based play style.
Vagante features both single-player and multiplayer modes. You can go on adventures with up to three other players in local and online co-op modes.
The game is quite challenging and will take you a lot of time to finish. However, you won’t get bored because the maps are procedurally generated. In other words, no two runs will ever be the same. Fans of games like Dead Cells will love this title.
Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D action RPG with Metroidvania elements that came out in 2016, coming from independent developer Ska Studios. One of the main inspirations for the game was Dark Souls. You can play Salt and Sanctuary on Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
You play a doomed sailor who survives a shipwreck and gets stuck on an uncharted island. On the mysterious island, you find the corpses of many people who ventured here before you. There are also old, salt-worn structures scattered around the island, and beneath them is a terrible evil.
Salt and Sanctuary feels like a combination of Castlevania and Dark Souls. The minimalist storyline in the game only serves the purpose to introduce you to the complex 2D combat mechanics.
There are more than 600 items that you can use in Salt and Sanctuary. These include weapons, armor, and spells. You can either find items or craft them.
You can choose between a variety of one-handed and two-handed weapons depending on your desired speed of attack. You can also use magic and ranged attacks to defeat enemies. There are many RPG elements in Salt and Sanctuary. For instance, you’ll get to choose a class, develop your stats, and upgrade your skills as you progress in the game.
Salt and Sanctuary features a local multiplayer mode for co-op adventures and competitive play.
Curse of the Dead Gods
Curse of the Dead Gods is a single-player roguelike video game from Passtech Games. It initially went into early access in 2020 before its full release a year later. You can play the game on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Players take on the role of a character named Caradog McCallister who stumbles into an ancient jungle tomb. After this, you become locked in a nightmare that is full of curses, traps, and monsters. Your objective is to guide Caradog through different temples and collect items as you go.
The game has an isometric perspective. There are three dungeons in Curse of the Dead Gods that you need to navigate to gain money, power, and immortality. The replayability in the game is high because the dungeons are procedurally generated. If you enjoy the replay value of games like Dead Cells, you’ll love this game.
Just as you’d expect from a roguelike and dungeon crawler game, you will die a lot. Every time you die, you will end up back at the temple entrance. Each temple is full of hostile enemies, deadly traps, and various hazards. You will progressively unlock upgrades, boost your skills, and find new weapons that will prepare you for the challenges ahead.
There are many weapons you’ll get to use in Curse of the Dead Gods, including spears, swords, guns, and bows.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
Are you tired of playing the hero and constantly having to slay monsters? Skul: The Hero Slayer follows an interesting story in which you play the villain. Your enemies will be mighty knights and defenders of the realm.
This game came from SouthPAW Games in 2021. You can play Skul: The Hero Slayer on Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Nintendo Switch.
You play as a tiny skeletal figure known as Skul. The story takes place in a world where adventurers and the Imperial Army join forces to eliminate all demons. They launch an attack on the stronghold of the demons, killing and imprisoning everyone. The only creature that survived is Skul. Because of this, you get sent on a special mission by the Demon King to slay the humans.
Skul is a very small character compared to the knights that defend the realm. Nevertheless, he is incredibly strong and can take on extremely powerful enemies. As you progress in the game, you’ll be able to upgrade your fighting skills.
The player character can wear different skulls, which provide unique skills and abilities. Each skull has a unique power, speed of attack, and attack range. You’re able to use up to two skulls at a time. Players earn an in-game currency by defeating enemies and clearing levels. You can use the currency to upgrade your skulls and buy new equipment.
Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania video game from Thomas Happ. Thomas started working on the game in 2010 as a passion project. He is the sole artist, musician, and developer of Axiom Verge. It took him five years to finish the game.
Axiom Verge came out in 2015 and is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, macOS, Linux, and Windows.
The game received critical acclaim after its release. It was mostly praised for its weapon selection, setting, boss battles, and secrets scattered throughout the game. Axiom Verge spawned a sequel, which came out in 2021. Development on the sequel began less than a year after the original game came out. Fans of games like Dead Cells will love both games.
The story follows a scientist named Trace who suffers a lab explosion and wakes up on an alien planet called Sudra. Trace starts hearing a voice and must fight his way to find its source. The gameplay in Axiom Verge takes inspiration from Blaster Master, Metroid, and Bionic Commando.
There are many different enemies you’ll encounter while exploring Sudra. The enemies are strong and learning how to effectively beat them will not be easy. Your main weapon in the game is the Axiom Disruptor. In its original form, this weapon fires energy bullets. However, you can upgrade it to resemble a shotgun or a laser blaster.
The Messenger
The Messenger is a side-scrolling action-platformer with Metroidvania elements from independent developer Sabotage Studio. The main inspiration for the game is the Ninja Gaiden series. You can play The Messenger on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The story follows a ninja called The Messenger who goes on a quest to deliver an important scroll. The scroll is given to you by a hero who appears after a Demon King attacks a village of ninjas. Your instructions are to deliver the scroll to the top of a mountain.
The game starts off as a linear platformer where you have to go through different levels to progress the story. It’s split into two eras. The first is the past and is represented with 8-bit graphics and audio. The second era is the future and uses 16-bit audio and graphics.
At one point, the gameplay will switch to a Metroidvania style and your objective will be to find certain items by revisiting past eras. The Messenger is notable for its excellent blend of different game genres. The game features very memorable villains and bosses, and it’s one of the best games similar to Dead Cells to check out.
