Dead Cells has been going strong for three years with free updates and a couple of paid expansions, but it’s not done yet. The award-winning metroidvania roguelike recently launched a free crossover update titled “Everyone is Here,” adding in costumes and items from several famous indie metroidvanias. This was quickly followed up by the announcement of the third, and seemingly final, paid expansion titled The Queen & the Sea planned for Q1 2022. It will presumably finish the string of areas that prior expansions have been building out, complete with a new ending. More free updates are expected to continue releasing throughout the next year, and developer Motion Twin will be working on a new project in the meantime.
The “Everyone is Here” update is nothing to sneeze at, even if it doesn’t bring the same amount of content as an expansion. Weapons, skills, and skins from Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, Hyper Light Drifter, Guacamelee, Skul, and Curse of the Dead Gods are now available. The weapons and skills can be found in hidden rooms themed after the various games throughout the initial Prisoners’ Quarters. The skins require mini puzzles to be solved, hints for which can be found in a cryptic tome in the same area. Upon solving a puzzle (usually with a specific crossover item) the player gains a skin blueprint that can be exchanged with the Collector. That does mean the player needs to stay alive through the whole process, but that’s not an unfamiliar challenge for Dead Cells fans.
Hollow Knight - Pure Nail
The Pure Nail can be found at a familiar bench, and allows the player to attack upward and downward. Attacking downward while airborne can result in bouncing on enemies, dealing critical damage and giving the player some extra distance on their jumps. This weapon will be particularly useful for mobility, like it was in Hollow Knight.
Blasphemous - Face Flask and Penitent’s Outfit
A small altar will yield the Face Flask. Crushing a flask on the player’s forehead will deal low damage, but will also transform 35 percent of missing health into recoverable health. This won’t jive with some players, much like the brutal Blasphemous itself, but will be useful for some builds.
Hyper Light Drifter - Hard Light Gun & Sword and The Magician’s Outfit
An ominous obelisk will produce the Hard Light Gun and Hard Light Sword. The gun marks its targets while also dealing damage. The sword deals critical damage to the marked targets, increasing with the number of gun marks on said target. Sword hits also recharge the gun’s ammo, which doesn’t recharge passively. It encourages a mobile fighting style not dissimilar to Hyper Light Drifter’s protagonist.
Guacamelee! - Pollo Power and Luchador’s Outfit
A grandiose statue will confer the Pollo Power. Using it will turn the player into a chicken for a few seconds, allowing them to rapidly produce explosive eggs while running past enemies. It’s a goofy ability, befitting a Guacamelee! crossover, but could be used to escape a tight situation.
Skul: The Hero Slayer - Bone and Little Bone’s Outfit
Digging through a large pile of skulls will reveal the Bone. It may sound unimpressive, but Dead Cells’ take on it is a huge club that can be used to smash enemies. Hitting with the second combo attack enables an advancing whirlwind spin that deals critical damage. Dead Cells fans may want to check out how it was originally implemented in Skul, which is another high-quality metroidvania roguelike that features Dead Cells' hero.
Curse of the Dead Gods - Machete & Pistol and Explorer’s Outfit
A strange pyramid will materialize the distinctly mundane Machete and Pistol. The machete can slash twice, followed by a third attack using the pistol to bump and inflict critical damage to nearby enemies. Holding the attack button charges a slow and powerful ranged attack, completing a package that should make Curse of the Dead Gods players (who have also had a Dead Cells crossover) feel right at home.
Dead Cells is available now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile devices.
