Jar 07 · Roguelite action · Motion Twin / Evil Empire, 2018
Dead Cells
A headless warrior fights through a changing castle, dying and coming back stronger. Fast, fluid and endlessly replayable.
Edition reviewed: Dead Cells (2018).
Official artwork © Motion Twin / Evil EmpireWhat you do
Fight through randomly arranged levels, collect weapons and upgrades, die, and start again with permanent unlocks.
Who it suits
Action fans who love short, intense runs. Not for very young players.
01Arrival
You wake in a prison as a blob of slime in a body. The first run is over fast, but the combat feels incredible.
02Deeper in
Each run unlocks new weapons and shortcuts, and the castle reveals new routes. You get better without noticing.
03Safe places to stop
Runs are short and self-contained; the doors between biomes are natural pauses.
Why it works
- Superb combat
- Short runs
- Huge variety
Watch out for
- Repetition is part of the design
- Expansions add cost
The score
Overall 4.6 out of 5 · Lush · how we score
Our verdict
The best short-run action game on the shelf. One run, then rest.
Written by the Moss Byte desk. Updated 23 October 2026. Facts were checked against the publisher and store pages at that date; prices and platforms can change.