Hades and Dead Cells are two similar roguelikes. What are the differences? How are they similar? Which is best for you? Here is a quick answer.
There are plenty of games out there that feel the same way. Developing games inherently involves reusing or iterating ideas. For a few years, we have had a particular couple: Hades and Dead Cells, which stand out for one detail: both are excellent.
similarities
- Mechanical – the main similarity between Hades and Dead Cells is the gameplay model. But it’s a no-brainer: they’re both roguelikes, which implies the usual set of rules. If the protagonist dies, we have to start over keeping only the unlocked skills.which makes each subsequent approach a bit easier than the last.
- Chart – both games use colorful pixelart graphics that many gamers loved. In the case of Hades, it’s a bit more refined and detailed.
- Difficulty – as roguelikes, these two are characterized by a relative high entry threshold, which does not mean that they are inaccessible. In fact, both have been praised for their very satisfying gameplay, which is another big similarity.
Hades (top) and Dead Cells (bottom).
differences
- Perspective – the main difference is the location of the camera. hell uses a top-down isometric perspective, while dead cells this is a 2d side scroller.
- History – Hades features an interesting and prominent history, so it would be recommended for players looking for story-based experiences. in dead cells the story is mostly kept to a bare minimum.
- hero – in Hades, we play the role of Zagreus, a talkative hero who managed to conquer quite a few hearts with his charm. Dead Cells is quite the opposite: the character is Beheaded, a completely silent protagonist.
- Platforms – both are available on PC, Switch, Xbox One and PS4, while Dead Cells is also available in mobile version on Android and iOS. Hades, on the other hand, is the one available on the next generation: PS5 and Xbox X&S.
- weapons – if you care about a rich variety of weapons in a game, Dead Cells is the recommended choice, superior to Hades in this regard. The latter contains only 6 weapons, but makes up for it with the character development system, which makes the fights very satisfying.
Which game to choose?
If you care about story, memorable characters, and are looking for a game that will last longer, Hades is a great choice.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a combat-focused game, higher difficulty, and, in the perfect mix, a 2D platformer, you might like Dead Cells. By the way, it can also be recommended as an excellent mobile experience.
Both games appear relatively frequently in Steam sales, so you can get them for a lot less if you’re reasonably patient.