Editors’ Choice celebrates the very best apps and games—handpicked by App Store Editors around the world.
In this tough-as-nails platformer, death can’t stop you—it only slows you down! As you explore Dead Cells’ monster-infested castle, you’ll eventually fall to the relentless hordes and ruthless bosses. But this brutally brilliant roguelike never plays the same way twice, and like its unstoppable hero, we just keep coming back for more.
Our favorite moment: Beating Dead Cells’ not-so-final boss, the Hand of the King. After a few failed attempts with the Blood Sword, Impaler, Broadsword, and Twin Daggers, we stumbled on our favorite item: the Electric Whip! Paired with Ice Grenades and Lacerating Aura, it gave us just enough hit-and-run room against the Hand’s dual-bladed reach. Landing that final blow? So satisfying.
We can’t believe: How every run teaches us something new, whether it’s insight into beating certain foes or why some mutations and weapon combos just work. Over time, once-daunting levels like the Toxic Sewers and Clock Tower go from barely survivable to skill showcases. And with countless blades, daggers, bows, big hammers, and magic spells to find, there’s always a fresh strategy worth trying.
The biggest surprise: Dead Cells is loaded with buried secrets and hidden endings—and ongoing updates have added so many new weapons, sidequests, and treasures, it’s almost a new game. Our favorite addition? A Castlevania-themed expansion, which pays homage to this genre’s roots. Look out Dracula, here we come!