5 Dark games like Dead Cells that you should try

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.

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.

The genre is the same as Dead Cells’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is horror setting and a third-person camera.

It comes from the same genre as Dead Cells and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is horror setting.

What brings it close to Dead Cells is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings puzzle design.