Start with Hollow Knight if you want the broadest mix of exploration and demanding action. For a darker, harsher mood, try Blasphemous; for precise traversal, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown; for expressive movement and presentation, Ori and the Will of the Wisps; or for gentler exploration, SteamWorld Dig 2.
These games share parts of Dead Cells’ appeal, but not necessarily its run-based structure. Motion Twin calls Dead Cells “a rogue-lite, Castlevania-inspired action-platformer,” built around a sprawling, ever-changing castle. Its repeated runs and unlocks can feel metroidvania-like, while its randomized routes and permadeath differ from the persistent interconnected maps typical of the games below. Motion Twin’s official game page and PC Gamer’s metroidvania guide describe that distinction.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition Nintendo Switch | $28.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dead Cells - Action Game of The Year - Nintendo Switch | $30.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Dead Cells - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HXJorAjyL._SL160_.jpg)
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Dead Cells - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dragon is Dead - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dead Cells - Action Game of the Year (Nintendo Switch) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Which game should you choose?
| Game | Best fit if you want… | Combat and challenge | Exploration and progression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | A well-rounded starting point | Demanding fights, bosses, and platforming | A richly explorable world with charm-based play choices |
| Blasphemous | Dark atmosphere and severe action | Brutal, difficult combat; includes gore and violence | Metroidvania-style exploration; not a Dead Cells-style randomized run loop |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Traversal challenges and time powers | Combat and precision platforming | Interconnected biomes to explore |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Expressive movement and presentation | Platforming-forward, with combat | A metroidvania adventure rather than repeated roguelite runs |
| SteamWorld Dig 2 | A gentler route through exploration | Less emphasis on punishing combat | Digging, gadgets, upgrades, and access to new zones |
The fit descriptions are editorial judgments based on the cited game and guide descriptions, not results of controlled comparisons with Dead Cells.
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Hollow Knight: the broadest starting point
Choose Hollow Knight if the parts of Dead Cells you most want to keep are discovery, difficult action, and the satisfaction of learning a dangerous world. It combines exploration with bosses, combat, and platforming, while charms let you make meaningful choices about how to approach play. GamesRadar+ ranks it first in its metroidvania guide; that is the outlet’s editorial ranking, not an objective measure of similarity or a universal verdict.
#1 Best Overall
- 17 Levels - Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
- 5 Bosses - Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
- 150 or so weapons and skills - Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
- Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
- Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
Blasphemous: dark tone and punishing action
Blasphemous is the pick for players who want a bleak setting and brutal action rather than Dead Cells’ more kinetic, repeat-the-run structure. Steam tags it as both a Metroidvania and a Souls-like, and describes its setting as Cvstodia. The listing also flags gore, violence, and difficulty, so it is a poor fit if graphic content is unwelcome. Steam identifies The Game Kitchen as developer, Team17 as publisher, and September 10, 2019 as the release date. See the Steam listing.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: traversal in a connected world
Pick Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown if you enjoy Dead Cells’ movement challenges as much as its fighting. Its Steam listing highlights interconnected biomes, exploration, platforming, combat, and time powers, and tags it as a precision platformer. That makes it a strong match for traversal and route discovery, without implying the randomized repeated runs associated with Dead Cells. Steam lists Ubisoft Montpellier as developer, Ubisoft as publisher, and August 8, 2024 as the release date. See the Steam listing.
Rank #2
- Incredible 2D souls-lite action with more than 90 weapons and spells with nonlinear gameplay.
- Explore secret room, hidden passages, and charming landscapes. Stroll down towers and breath in that fresh sea mist infused air.
- Build your unique play style as you combat the adrenaline pumping threat of perm death in this unique game of the year!
Ori and the Will of the Wisps: movement and presentation
Ori and the Will of the Wisps suits players drawn to fluid platforming and a polished audiovisual presentation more than to Dead Cells’ roguelite loop. GamesRadar’s metroidvania guide praises its platforming and combat and characterizes it as a polished, more challenging entry in the series. Read GamesRadar+’s guide.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSteamWorld Dig 2: exploration with a gentler edge
If you want the pleasure of opening up new areas but less emphasis on punishing combat, try SteamWorld Dig 2. PC Gamer describes the SteamWorld Dig games as approachable and not too difficult, with digging, gadgets, upgrades, and progression into new zones. That makes this the gentlest fit on this list for a player who likes uncovering a map and steadily improving their options. Read PC Gamer’s guide.
Rank #3
- RogueVania: The progressive exploration of an interconnected world, with the replayability of a rogue-lite and the adrenaline pumping threat of permadeath.
- 2D Souls-lite Action: Tough but fair combat, the iconic dodge roll, more than 90 weapons and spells with unique gameplay… The unforgiving action wed to the absence of any kind of safety net makes for an adrenalin pumping ride each and every run.
- Nonlinear progression: Sewers, Ossuary or Ramparts? Once unlocked, special permanent abilities allow you to access new paths to reach your objective. Opt for the path that suits your current build, your play style, or just your mood.
- Exploration: Secret rooms, hidden passages, charming landscapes. Take a moment to stroll the towers and breath in that fresh sea mist infused air...
How to decide based on what you like about Dead Cells
- Exploring and fighting through a large world: start with Hollow Knight.
- Dark atmosphere and difficult combat: choose Blasphemous, if its gore and violence suit you.
- Precision movement and traversal: try Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
- Expressive platforming and polished presentation: go with Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
- Map discovery and upgrades without as much combat pressure: choose SteamWorld Dig 2.
If what you chiefly want is Dead Cells’ permadeath, randomized routes, and repeated-run progression, none of these recommendations should be mistaken for an exact structural match: the shortlist is aimed at its exploration, action, or platforming appeal.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- RogueVania: The progressive exploration of an interconnected world, with the replayability of a rogue-lite and the adrenaline pumping threat of permadeath.
- 2D Souls-lite Action: Tough but fair combat, the iconic dodge roll, more than 90 weapons and spells with unique gameplay… The unforgiving action wed to the absence of any kind of safety net makes for an adrenalin pumping ride each and every run.
- Nonlinear progression: Sewers, Ossuary or Ramparts? Once unlocked, special permanent abilities allow you to access new paths to reach your objective. Opt for the path that suits your current build, your play style, or just your mood.
- Exploration: Secret rooms, hidden passages, charming landscapes. Take a moment to stroll the towers and breath in that fresh sea mist infused air...
Rank #4
- Play as an immortal Successor - You are a Successor, an immortal warrior empowered by the gods Lu, Ashuran, and Harnia. When you die, you revive with your gear, runes, and unlocks intact and head back out from Cliffshire to push further into corrupted zones. Choose your Successor - You'll start as the Spellblade and unlock additional Successors as you progress. Each has its own skill tree, weapons, and playstyle
- Playable Classes - Spellblade-Element-focused hybrid with close and mid-range attacks built around fire, frost, and lightning. Berserker - Heavy melee bruiser that trades its own HP and positioning for huge damage and armor. Hunter - Mobile ranged fighter using thrown weapons, poison, and beast abilities to apply damage over time and control space.
- 2D Roguelite Hack-and-Slash Combat - Combat revolves around precise dodges, reading telegraphed attacks, and committing to aggressive combos. Areas are multi-layered 2D stages that reshuffle enemy layouts, hazards, and loot each run. When you fall, you lose gold and temporary bonuses, but your gear and runes stay with you and form the base of your next attempt.
- Loot, Runes, and Artifacts - Hunt Elites and Bosses to claim Rune Stones, then craft them into Legendary and Mythic equipment. Runes and class skill trees interact to define your build, while artifacts you pick up mid-run stack into powerful synergies.
- Bonus Goodie - Poster is packed inside.
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