Hard Cell

Crashing castles in dead cells.

- Chris Thursten

Dead Cells has robust DNA. This is an action platformer with Castlevania’s environments and gothic bestiary, wed to Dark Souls’ exploration and sense of risk. From Diablo it inherits weapons with randomized effects and deep combo potential, and from Spelunky it learns how to create that ‘just one more run’ feeling with new surprises to discover. This is an ambitious act of successful synthesis, as its components have been executed beautifully.

It’s gorgeous, for a start. Smooth animation, evocative pixel art, and gratifying effects cast Dead Cells 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 color to the game’s palette. Defeated enemies erupt in a shower of 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 vital window of invincibility. You can bust through wooden doors to stun enemies with a satisfying crunch, and leap from chains to dodge projectiles and reach new areas—and that’s without factoring in your arsenal.