Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a joy to experience. This latest addition to the long-running roguelike adds more variety to the early and endgame and a bit of Castlevania-infused flair to any run. There are a few new areas and bosses, weapons, outfits, and story sequences to add to the already massive amount of content that Dead Cells sports. Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania feeling like a delicious dessert to the four-course meal this iconic roguelike offers. 

The Good

Return to Castlevania is full of new content inspired by the venerated series that started it all. There are various new weapons, including classic Castlevania staples like Alucard’s shield from the opening of Symphony of the Night and holy water, alongside new enemies, two new biomes, new bosses, and more. For the asking price, Return to Castlevania is a steal. It is stuffed with references and content that will help fill the void left by the lack of Castlevania games all these years.

The Bad 

Return to Castlevania is more Dead Cells, for better or worse. If you didn’t like the base game, this new DLC wouldn’t change your mind. It is more of a great thing, but it is fundamentally the same gameplay and mechanics we played around with for dozens of hours back in 2018.  The DLC also feels light initially, and it takes a while to fully appreciate how much content is added. Exploring the Castle Outskirts for the first time is exciting, but it takes multiple runs to slowly unveil each layer and explore the extra additions.

What Surprised Me

Five years later, Dead Cells remains as satisfying and fun to play as it ever has, and it remains near the top of the roguelike genre, even with the market’s oversaturation. The combat is satisfying and punchy and there aren’t any roguelikes out there that rival the satisfaction and rewards that runs in Dead Cells offers. Every run still feels worthwhile, and finding new blueprints and gathering cells remains a joy. With so many additions, including Return to Castlevania, Dead Cells is brimming with content.

What Was Predictable 

Return to Castlevania adds more to the Dead Cells sandbox, but this title hasn’t seen many significant gameplay changes since leaving early access. As I mentioned before, this is more Dead Cells, for better or worse, and if you have already sunk hundreds of hours into the base game, Return to Castlevania won’t offer you any surprises.

Bottom Line

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania may not break new ground, but it is a lovingly made ode to an iconic series that has long remained dormant. The new biomes, bosses, weapons, enemies, and story content are all the highest quality, and Dead Cells remains an essential roguelike that still stands among its peers at the top of the genre.

Visuals: 8

Dead Cells’ expressive and unique 2.5D pixel art shines in the world of Castlevania and the reimagining of bosses like Dracula are a sight to behold. The game is full of visual references and cues for fans of the original. The style can be limiting and basic, but it provides visual clarity that helps gameplay.

Sound: 9

Dead Cells is full of great music, and this DLC is no exception. Iconic Castlevania tracks have been reworked to fit Dead Cells’ style and the DLC achieves this with aplomb. The soundtrack is as catchy and memorable as ever, and the new additions are worth the price.

Playability: 9

Dead Cells remains smooth, snappy, and satisfying. Enemies explode in showers of loot and gore, and slashing, dodge-rolling, and ground slams refuse to get old. The new bosses are a delight, and their reworks of classic attacks and moves are a blast to learn. Dead Cells’ core loop has been honed to roguelike perfection, and this DLC is no exception.

Story: 5

What story is there is fun, but the style and tone of Castlevania feel a bit incongruous with Dead Cells’ more humorous approach. The story elements of the DLC feel more like a series of references than an actual plot to follow, but it offers a fun, new way to run through the title. Giving the game a more holistic Castlevania vibe instead of just offering a new biome or two.

Replay Value: 10

Cells has mastered hitting the pleasure centers of the human brain. The number of outfits, weapons, tools, and more to unlock is astounding, and this new DLC just adds more to the pile of incredible content. Runs are full of build options and level variety, and now there is even more for players to chew on. Dead Cells has entertained roguelike fans for half a decade, and I see no reason for it to lose any steam in the future. At ten dollars, this DLC is highway robbery, and if you are a Castlevania fan, this is water in the desert, so hurry up and drink.

Overall Grade: 9/10