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Dead Cells

13 Games like Dead Cells on Nintendo Switch that you should try

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We filtered the 35 games similar to Dead Cells down to the 13 that fit the “Nintendo Switch” category. Rogue Legacy, Rogue Legacy 2 and Carrion top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Dead Cells.

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania
Tags
HardcoreDarkSolo
Year 2018Dev Plug In Digital

Quick answer

Within the “Nintendo Switch” category, the closest game to Dead Cells is Rogue Legacy — scoring 85/100 on our similarity scale. Rogue Legacy 2 and Carrion follow close behind.

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The best games like Dead Cells on Nintendo Switch

13 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Dead Cells. Each one has been evaluated across 17 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Rogue Legacy

85
NGL89
Rogue Legacy
Closest overall match
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloRangedMeleeProceduralFantasyExploration2DPixel Art
Year 2013Dev Abstraction Games · Cellar Door GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

What brings it close to Dead Cells is procedural generation, ranged combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting — its own ground is a medieval setting.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Combat78
2

Rogue Legacy 2

79
NGL90
Rogue Legacy 2
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreProceduralExploration2D
Year 2022Dev Cellar Door GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

What brings it close to Dead Cells is punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone and visuals.

Released 4 years after Dead Cells.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Combat68Visuals55
3

Carrion

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NGL85
Carrion
Closest on tone
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeDarkNarrativeHardcoreExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2020Dev Phobia Game Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · Android

It shares the essentials of what Dead Cells does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and pixel art. Where the two diverge is setting: horror setting.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals100Combat71
4

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

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Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Closest on setting
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasyExploration2D
Year 2017Dev Lizardcube · DotEmuOn PS4 · Linux · Android

What brings it close to Dead Cells is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is cozy, relaxing feel.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Combat73Visuals55
5

Hollow Knight: Silksong

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Hollow Knight: Silksong
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyExploration2D
Year 2025Dev Team CherryOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

What brings it close to Dead Cells is strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone and visuals.

Released 7 years after Dead Cells.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Combat66Visuals54
6

Teslagrad

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NGL82
Teslagrad
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2013Dev Rain Games · CIRCLE EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

Genre puts it alongside Dead Cells, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone71Combat66Visuals55
7

The Fall

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The Fall
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkExploration2D
Year 2014Dev Over The MoonOn PS4 · Linux · PC

On paper it is what Dead Cells is — strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Combat69Tone65Visuals55
8

Metroid Dread

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Metroid Dread
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloHardcoreNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2021Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · NintendoOn Switch

On paper it is what Dead Cells is — exploration and discovery, punishing difficulty, and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.

Released 3 years after Dead Cells.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone77Visuals54Setting0
9

Gato Roboto

59
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Gato Roboto
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreExploration2DPixel Art
Year 2019Dev doinksoft · Devolver DigitalOn PC · Xbox · Switch

If Dead Cells worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Combat72Tone42
10

Iconoclasts

59
NGL85
Iconoclasts
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2018Dev Joakim Sandberg · Bifrost EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

What brings it close to Dead Cells is strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and progression. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Combat73Tone34
11

Axiom Verge

58
NGL87
Axiom Verge
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExploration2DPixel Art
Year 2015Dev Thomas Happ GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It shares the essentials of what Dead Cells does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Combat68Tone28
12

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

57
NGL85
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeFantasyExploration2D
Year 2016Dev WayForward · XSEED GamesOn PS4 · PC · PS5

Same family as Dead Cells: melee combat, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is cozy, relaxing feel and an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Combat73Visuals56Setting55
13

SteamWorld Dig

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NGL88
SteamWorld Dig
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeExploration2DCasual
Year 2013Dev Image & FormOn PS4 · Linux · PC

The genre is the same as Dead Cells’s, and with it exploration and discovery, melee combat, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: a casual, approachable feel and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Combat68Visuals55Tone0

Explore games similar to Dead Cells by category

If Dead Cells left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the RPG or the hardcore that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Dead Cells look-alike but simply the best Metroidvania Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.