You Can Play This Highly Rated Platformer For Free Now
If you haven't had a chance to try one of the best roguelikes of the last few years, Dead Cells, there is no better time than now. In anticipation of a new DLC release, developer Motion Twin is running several promotions offering the game at a reduced rate — or even for free, if you know where to look.
Dead Cells first arrived on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2018 to widespread acclaim before making its way to mobile devices the following year. The game combined elements from Metroidvania-style platformers and the roguelike genre, leading some critics to refer to it as a "roguevania." Players assume the role of a sentient mass of cells that latches on to a different body each run while permanently leveling up items, spells, and special abilities to assist in an escape attempt from a cursed island.
The solid combat mechanics and addictive gameplay loop helped the title win Best Action Game at the 2018 Game Awards, beating out heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Destiny 2: Forsaken. Here's how you can play Dead Cells for free right now.
Dead Cells will be free until February on Nintendo Switch Online
Starting Jan. 26, anyone with an active Nintendo Switch Online account will be able to download and enjoy Dead Cells in full. The game will remain free and fully playable until Feb. 1, when the trial period ends.
Dead Cells will also go on sale starting on Jan. 26, with the base game's price receiving a 50% reduction across all digital marketplaces. Considering that roguelikes such as Dead Cells don't necessarily have traditional narratives like more conventional titles, this gives gamers a chance to dive in and see if the gameplay loop alone is worth their cash.
Jan. 26 is also the first day that the new Fatal Falls DLC is available. This content, as well as the previous The Bad Seed DLC and every free update released since Dead Cells first arrived in 2018, are all combined in the Dead Cells: The Fatal Seed Bundle. Finally, the game remains available at no additional cost for subscribers of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass. If you haven't experienced Dead Cells' frantic, ever-changing roguevania world, there's a wealth of content waiting for you. Grab it for free while you can!