Dead Cells

Dead Cells arrived on mobile devices in 2019 in a port by Playdigious, a studio that has long specialized in adapting demanding action PC and console games for touchscreen controls. The original by French studio Motion Twin combines the roguelike genre with metroidvania level design - the player moves through a procedurally generated castle full of enemies and traps, losing world progress and equipment on every death but keeping some permanent character upgrades, so each new attempt pushes a bit further than the last.

Combat built around fast dodges, mixing melee and ranged weapons, and precise timing is among the best the genre has to offer, which is exactly why the touch conversion was such a challenge - Playdigious ultimately settled on a combination of virtual buttons and gestures that allow dodges and attacks with reasonable precision, though experienced players switching over from keyboard and controller often report slight delay compared to physical buttons during fast fights and tougher bosses.

Despite these limitations, the game's pacing on mobile remains surprisingly intact - short runs through the castle suit shorter play sessions between other obligations, which is true of the roguelike genre in general even outside mobile platforms and makes it a fitting title for a train ride or a wait.

Why play: For fans of fast action roguelikes who want to try Dead Cells' acclaimed combat on the go - with the understanding that touch precision falls slightly short of a physical controller.