Even 9 Years Later, This Roguelike Changed How I Viewed The Genre

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I used to dislike roguelike games. They often felt too repetitive without offering enough interesting things to keep me playing. While these games are built around random levels and repeated runs, most didn’t grab my attention for very long. But one game completely changed my mind, and now I enjoy roguelikes much more than I used to.

Roguelike games have been incredibly popular lately, with titles like Hades 2 receiving a lot of praise. Other indie games, such as Mewgenics, are also making waves by offering unique and unpredictable experiences. What makes roguelikes so engaging is their ability to take simple concepts and expand them with randomly generated levels and challenges, ensuring each playthrough feels fresh and exciting. Whether you prefer careful strategy or fast-paced action, roguelikes consistently deliver replayability.

Dead Cells Celebrates Its 9-Year Anniversary In May 2026 As A Truly Excellent Roguelike

Many fans consider Dead Cells, released in 2017, to be one of the best modern roguelike games. It’s received a lot of extra content through downloadable expansions, making it a lasting favorite among players. It’s even collaborated with other famous series like Castlevania. In fact, Dead Cells shares a lot of similarities with Castlevania, featuring a stylish pixel-art look and a dark fantasy setting.

Every playthrough of Dead Cells begins with a random set of weapons, instantly shaping how you’ll tackle the run. As you progress, you’ll enhance your character through three skill trees – Brutality, Tactics, and Survival – unlocking upgrades and perks that gradually create a unique playstyle. You can further customize your build with support weapons and alternative tools, tailoring your approach to combat based on your preferences and the specific challenges of each boss.

Creating a well-balanced roguelike often requires striking a difficult balance, and Dead Cells may have set a new standard for the genre. Many newer roguelikes copy its approach of challenging enemies combined with a wide range of ways to build your character. What makes Dead Cells unique is the freedom it gives players – you decide where to go and how to progress during each run. I often found the strict, repetitive loops of other roguelikes frustrating, but Dead Cells pleasantly surprised me with its player choice and flexibility.

Fast-Paced Combat & Huge Run Variety Kept Playthroughs Of Dead Cells Fresh

When I first played Dead Cells, the combat felt more complex than in most roguelikes. Different weapons created a variety of strengths and weaknesses in every fighting approach. A basic sword, for instance, allowed for well-timed blocks, but limited your reach. Conversely, a bow offered range but left you open to fast, powerful enemies and bosses.

While the game’s core systems aren’t groundbreaking for the genre, they’re presented much more clearly than in similar games. The striking visuals combined with challenging difficulty create intense highs and lows – successful runs feel amazing, but losing them is crushing. Unlike other difficult roguelikes, like Dead Cells, this game encourages experimentation. Instead of giving up after a defeat, I found myself wanting to try a different strategy on my next run. The game also does a good job of introducing these new ideas at a pace that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Celebrated Add-On Content Over The Years Keep Introducing New Elements Of Dead Cells To Explore

Since its release, Dead Cells has consistently improved thanks to its accessible random generation, engaging combat, and diverse character builds. Fantastic DLC packs like The Queen and the Sea, Fatal Falls, and The Bad Seed have added even more depth to the game, building on its strengths and polishing areas players weren’t as keen on. The Return to Castlevania DLC is particularly popular, and it’s even positioned developer Motion Twin as the leading force behind the next Castlevania installment, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.

Dead Cells offers incredible replay value, with new weapons, tougher enemies, and constantly evolving strategies keeping players engaged for hundreds of hours. Even after almost ten years, players are still discovering creative ways to play and overcoming unexpected challenges that make each run unique. The game’s many accessible mechanics allow for a highly customized experience – players can easily adjust difficulty or prevent unwanted items from appearing, making it one of the best games of its kind for those who like to tailor their gameplay.

As a huge fan, playing Dead Cells really opened my eyes to what I love about roguelikes. It wasn’t just a fun game – it helped me figure out why I enjoy the genre so much. After sinking so many hours into it, I can now instantly tell if another roguelike will grab me, and I appreciate how much freedom and unique gameplay they offer, something you don’t often find in other types of games.

What game first introduced you to roguelikes? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-09 18:12