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What Is Dead Cells?

Dead Cells has been called a "roguevania." This is because it combines elements of roguelike games with Metroidvania games, thus that particular portmanteau. For those who are unfamiliar with those concepts, a roguelike game is a kind of turn-based RPG that happens on a tile-based system, which sees players progressing through random game levels created via procedural generation. In contrast, Metroidvania games refer to action-adventure games resembling the 2D Metroid and Castlevania games, which require players to unlock new segments of huge, interconnected maps by unlocking new capabilities for their characters. As a result, Dead Cells features action-adventure gameplay in procedurally-generated dungeons, which have to be overcome by a collection of cells that have managed to gain control of a dead prisoner's corpse.

Currently, Dead Cells is on Steam's Early access, meaning that it is available for playing at this point in time. Since it is still in Early access, it is not just incomplete but also still lacking in the polish needed to make a good game into a great game. However, it is nonetheless possible for interested individuals to get a good look at its potential, which promises something interesting once it has been completed. With that said, it should be mentioned that the team behind Dead Cells has mentioned their intentions to released Dead Cells on consoles such as the Nintendo Switch as well, which is expected to happen at some time towards the end of 2018.

Should Dead Cells Go Switch?

Some people might be wondering something along the lines of, "Should Dead Cells go Switch?" If so, the answer is an emphatic "Yes" for a number of reasons.

For example, the Nintendo Switch offers the option for people to play their games not just at home but also while they are on the go. As a result, bringing Dead Cells to the Nintendo Switch would enable interested individuals to play the game whenever and wherever they choose, which is not something that can be said about the other platforms that will see it released. The platforms that come closest will be laptops, but even then, it is clear that they won't be able to match the convenience of something like the Nintendo Switch. Summed up, this means that bringing Dead Cells to the Nintendo Switch would provide interested individuals with a huge measure of convenience, which is something that would actually make a huge difference for the better in their playing experience.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Dead Cells is not a particularly graphics-intensive game. As a result, its performance on the Nintendo Switch is a non-issue, whereas the same cannot be said for the performance of some of the Tripe-A titles out there. This matters because while the Nintendo Switch belongs to the same generation of consoles as the PS4 and the XBox One, its specifications are not as good. Fortunately, that doesn't matter when it comes to something like Dead Cells, meaning that there is no less negative factor that needs to be considered.

Finally, the Nintendo Switch has actually managed to make something of a reputation for itself as a home for indie games in recent times. This makes sense because of its portability, which makes it a better option for playing indie games whenever and wherever the players chooses compared to most of the other platforms that can be found out there. As a result, there is a remarkable number of indie games that can be downloaded by the owner of a Nintendo Switch, meaning that there is a pre-existing base of people who might be interested in something like Dead Cells. A fact that should make it easier for it to rack up the sales when the time comes for its full release.

What Indie Games Are Switching?

Currently, there are a number of well-known indie games that have become available on the Nintendo Switch. For example, there is Stardew Valley, which can be summed up as a western version of the Harvest Moon series with combat that bears more of a resemblance to the old top-down Zelda games than to the Rune Factory series. Suffice to say that Stardew Valley managed to become a huge success in spite of the fact that it was made by a single person, so it was no real surprise when it managed to make it way onto the Nintendo Switch. Likewise, a side-scrolling platformer called Shovel Knight has managed to make it onto the Nintendo Switch as well, which makes sense because its style makes it an excellent fit for said console. Other examples of indie games that can be found on the Nintendo Switch at the moment include but are not limited to Overcooked, Thumper, and Golf Story, meaning that there is an excellent selection of titles for those who are interested.

With that said, new indie games are being released on a regular basis, meaning that there are plenty of new candidates for addition to the Nintendo Switch. However, the chances of these games managing to make it onto the Nintendo Switch are much better in some cases than in others, though the reasons can see significant variation.

One example of a game that would be great for the Nintendo Switch is Cuphead. Unfortunately, while it is possible that Cuphead will make it onto said console at some point in the future, it seems improbable that will be happening anytime soon. This is because the makers of Cuphead received support from Microsoft, which is why it has been released as an exclusive for the PC as well as the XBox One. However, considering that it has been said that Cuphead could be released for the iOS as well as other platforms in the future, it is not unreasonable to suspect that it will be released on the Nintendo Switch in time, whether because the creators' contract with Microsoft runs out or because Microsoft gives the go-ahead once it has exhausted its usefulness in selling the XBox One as an exclusive. In fact, it should be noted that the creators of Cuphead have already released one of their previous games for the Nintendo Switch, with said game being Super Meat Boy.

Content-wise, Cuphead is best-described as a combination of boss battles with run-and-gun levels. Style-wise, it is influenced by the works of Fleischer Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and other creators from the 1930s, which is why it has such a distinctive look that should be familiar to anyone who has ever seen the source material. Regardless, Cuphead would be an excellent choice for the Nintendo Switch, which seems to be something recognized by Nintendo Switch owners themselves, as shown by a recent survey on what games that they would like to see. Hopefully, that means that Nintendo will make an effort to bring it over to their console and that Microsoft would be willing to let that happen.

Of course, there are also other indie games out there that could prove interesting. For example, an action platformer called Iconoclasts has just been released onto Steam, which has been met with positive reviews so far. As a result, if it can sustain that reaction, it is not unreasonable to expect to see it on the Nintendo Switch at some point in the future. Likewise, My Time At Portia has just been released for Steam's Early access, which is worth noting because it is another game that draws significant inspiration from the Harvest Moon series. However, whereas Stardew Valley clung closely to that formula, My Time At Portia seems to be willing to take more risks, as shown by its use of more modern tools. Something that could enable it to stand out while also offering a comforting measure of nostalgia. Summed up, there are a lot of excellent candidates for inclusion on the Nintendo Switch out there, so it will be interesting to see what indie games are switching in the times to come.