Dead Cells

Management say you have to keep working even after death. Chris Thursten isn't impressed by their rogue-like attitude.

- Chris Thursten

SPECS

Minimum OS: Ubuntu 64-bit, Steamos

Memory: 2GB

Hard disk: 500MB

GPU: Nvidia 450 GTS, Radeon HD 5750 (OpenGL 3.2+). Note: no official Intel HD Graphics or Intel GMA support

Recommended

Memory: 4GB

PU: Nvidia GTX 460 Radeon HD 7800

Dead Cells is gorgeous. Smooth animation, evocative pixel art, and gratifying effects cast the game in a good light from the off. Its moody fortresses and haunted villages are atmospheric but never drab, and each zone introduces a new splash of colour to the game’s palette. Defeated enemies erupt in a shower of glinting gems, and weapons strike with gratifying force thanks to on-point sound design.

These touches gild a superbly executed movement and combat system. You have a double jump and a dodge-roll that grants a brief but vital window of invincibility. You can chain these into midair dodges and powerful ground-slam attacks – and that’s without factoring in the game’s many weapon choices.