August Is Packed Full of 2018’s Best Indie Games

Dead Cells (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Aug. 7)

As one of the most frenetic and satisfying ninja-murder simulators to grace platforms in recent memory, the appeal of Dead Cells will be apparent to players within the first 15 minutes. Conveniently, that’s about how long the average player’s first run will take. Dead Cells appends Metroidvania-style exploration onto its rogue-lite framework by peppering runes that grant access to new areas throughout its several connected worlds. Though death, and not backtracking, proves the ultimate means of progression in Dead Cells. Thanks to this, as well as procedural generation that doesn’t feel like a parlor trick, the opening levels of Dead Cells are just as engaging on your 15th run as they are on your first.