Games like Dead Cells: should you try Skul or Rogue Legacy 2?
If Dead Cells left you wanting more side-scrolling combat and another reason to start a run, look at Skul: The Hero Slayer and Rogue Legacy 2. Start with Skul for changing combat forms during an attempt; start with Rogue Legacy 2 for different heirs and an expanding family manor between attempts. This is a focused recommendation for the core PC games, not a claim that either reproduces Dead Cells’ feel exactly.
Keep the part of Dead Cells you actually enjoy
The useful common ground is side-on action, positioning around enemies and repeated attempts with changing possibilities. A shared roguelite label says much less about whether a jump, attack or recovery will feel right to you. Watch an ordinary room, not just a late-run build clearing the screen.
If what you really want is a fixed world to explore and gradually finish, reconsider this shortlist. Both recommendations make restarting central to their structure. The question here is which kind of repeated combat you want next, rather than which game looks most like a metroidvania in a screenshot.
Decide when you want your playstyle to change
Skul lets you carry up to two skulls and switch between their abilities during combat. Rogue Legacy 2 changes your starting character through heirs with different classes and traits, while manor upgrades carry forward. That gives two useful shopping questions: do you want to combine forms inside a run, or choose a different foundation for the next one?
This is an emphasis, not an absolute split. Rogue Legacy 2 also has relics collected during runs. Nor does permanent growth make either every attempt identical or player skill irrelevant. Compare how a new option changes your movement and decisions, rather than treating the number of unlocks as a measure of quality.
Choose by what you enjoy
| Game | Choose it for | Consider before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Skul the Hero Slayer | Trying different attack ranges and forms within one run | Switching forms asks you to relearn spacing, not just equip a bigger damage number |
| Rogue Legacy 2 | Platforming with new heirs and lasting family growth | Manor upgrades are part of the appeal; expect to engage with progression between attempts |
Skul the Hero Slayer
Trying different attack ranges and forms within one run
Skul’s official description makes the distinction concrete: skulls differ in range, speed and power, and you can carry two. For a Dead Cells player who enjoys changing equipment because it changes how to approach an enemy, this is a good next game to investigate. The attraction is adapting the same encounter to a different set of attacks.
Watch a player switch skulls in an ordinary fight. Does the change make you curious about when to close the gap and when to back away? If you mainly want to perfect one familiar moveset, the variety may matter less. We would not buy it solely because the pixel art or side-on camera resembles Dead Cells.
Rogue Legacy 2
Platforming with new heirs and lasting family growth
Rogue Legacy 2 ties the next run to a new heir, with classes and traits affecting the starting point. Gold develops the family manor, and heirlooms permanently add abilities. We recommend it when improving the family’s future is a satisfying reason to return, alongside learning to navigate the changing kingdom.
If repeated purchases feel like administration rather than progress, inspect the manor menu as carefully as the combat. For players worried about execution, its official House Rules include adjustments to health and damage, contact damage and flight for platform sections. These are concrete options to check, not a guarantee that you will prefer its movement or find every challenge easy.
Use one fight and one restart to narrow the choice
Put Skul first if changing forms during combat is the idea you want to test. Put Rogue Legacy 2 first if selecting the next heir, practising platforming and investing in the manor sound equally appealing. Watching what happens after a run ends can settle the choice better than another boss montage.
These are editorial fit judgments grounded in official mechanics. We do not rank port performance, promise a difficulty order or include paid extras in the comparison. The linked game pages give further review context; check the edition and controls on the store where you intend to buy.
Frequently asked questions
Which is closer to Dead Cells?
For the pleasure of changing your combat tools during a run, we would investigate Skul first. For side-scrolling exploration supported by persistent growth, investigate Rogue Legacy 2. Neither shares exactly the same movement, weapons or progression, so there is no useful universal similarity percentage.
Does Rogue Legacy 2 require playing the first game?
Our recommendation rests on the sequel’s own heirs, classes, manor and movement abilities. Prior play is not a condition of this buying advice. Watch its opening gameplay and explanation of progression rather than buying the original simply as a prerequisite.
Sources and scope
Based on the sources below, checked on the dates shown; recommendations about fit are editorial judgments, not a hands-on play report or a difficulty measurement. This guide covers the named games, not their sequels. See each game page for review evidence.