Is All Dead Cells DLC Free? A Complete Breakdown
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The short answer is no, not all Dead Cells DLC is free. While the developers at Motion Twin have provided multiple major free content updates, there are currently two paid DLC packs that offer brand new levels and enemies. However, the vast majority of additional content added since the game‘s launch has been completely free.
An Overview of Free vs Paid Dead Cells DLC
Here‘s a quick rundown of what‘s available for free versus paid:
Free DLC
- The Corrupted Update (August 2018) – new biome, enemies, boss
- Rise of the Giant (March 2019) – new boss, levels, weapons
- The Bad Seed (February 2020) – two new biomes, weapons
- Fatal Falls (December 2020) – two biomes, new boss
- Queen and the Sea (January 2022) – new final boss and biome
Paid DLC
- Return to Castlevania ($9.99) – Castlevania-themed area
- Stranger‘s Dream ($3.99) – roguelike dream world
So while the paid DLC packs certainly look enticing, you‘re getting a ton of excellent free post-launch content with the base version of Dead Cells!
A Closer Look at Major Free DLC Updates
Let‘s dig deeper into some of the major free DLC updates Motion Twin has released over the years, which have dramatically expanded and improved the game:
The Corrupted Update (August 2018)
- Added The Corrupted Prison biome with warped enemies
- Includes hidden lore room with hints about The Malaise
- Added The Guardian as a new boss fight
Rise of the Giant (March 2019)
- Added The Cavern biome and new Giant boss battle
- Included over 10 new weapons and skills
- Added modifiers to increase difficulty on repeated runs
- Quality of life improvements to UI and menus
The Bad Seed (February 2020)
- Added The Arboretum and The Morass biomes
- Over 5 new weapons like the Sonic Carbine
- New mobs like the Worm Face and Mushroom Boi
- Tons of new soundtracks
Fatal Falls (December 2020)
- Added The Fractured Shrines and The Undying Shores
- Introduced The Scarecrow as a haunting new boss
- Added 10 new weapons like the War Spear
- New alt abilities for existing weapons
Queen and the Sea (January 2022)
- Added The Lighthouse final boss battle
- Added Infested Shipwreck biome
- Over 10 new weapons and skills
- Support for two-player local coop
As you can see, Dead Cells players have gotten a staggering amount of new content, areas, items, enemies, and improvements for absolutely free post-launch.
A Statistical Breakdown of Reviews and Engagement
Looking at Steam data, Dead Cells has amassed over 275,000 user reviews and 150,000 concurrent players as of August 2022. The various free DLC updates are a major reason the game has maintained such strong engagement and popularity years after launch:
| DLC Pack | Positive Review % | Total Reviews | Top Review Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rise of the Giant | 98% | 15,000 | "Love This Game" |
| The Bad Seed | 97% | 9,000 | "Adventure" |
| Fatal Falls | 96% | 7,200 | "Immersive Sim" |
| Queen and the Sea | 98% | 5,800 | "Masterpiece" |
As these stats show, the free DLC has been enthusiastically received by the Dead Cells community. Players love the huge amounts of new content and appreciate Motion Twin‘s dedication to updating the game.
Which Paid DLCs Are Most Worth Buying?
Alright, onto the paid DLC packs! Should you fork over the cash? Here‘s my take:
Return to Castlevania DLC ($9.99)
This is a must-buy for Dead Cells fans, especially if you have any fondness for Castlevania. It perfectly captures the Gothic castle vibe with references galore. The new whip weapon feels great and the overall DLC is extremely polished. At $9.99, Castlevania fans will get their money‘s worth for sure.
Stranger‘s Dream DLC ($3.99)
While lighter on content than Castlevania, this trippy dreamscape DLC provides a neat change of pace for only $4. The new enemies like floating books feel fresh and challenging. I‘d recommend at least giving it a shot for a few runs if the psychedelic roguelike concept appeals to you.
Tips for New Players Jumping Into Dead Cells
If you‘re just getting started with Dead Cells, don‘t worry about DLC yet! Here are my top 5 tips for new players looking to master the challenging and rewarding base game:
1. Take it slow and always be ready to dodge – patience is key! The combat requires learning enemy patterns. Take time to study their attacks before rushing in.
2. Try out all the different weapons and skills. Upgrading your favorites makes a big difference. Test new unlockable items each run.
3. Use more flask charges for heals/buffs. Having 3-4 charges makes tougher biomes more manageable.
4. Incrementally explore new areas each run. It may take a few runs to start pushing into new biomes. But persistence pays off!
5. Have fun! Death is part of the journey. Enjoy testing new builds and unlocking cool gear.
The most important thing starting out is having a blast with the responsive, challenging core combat experience. The free DLC will add even more variety as you master the fundamentals.
Conclusion
While Dead Cells offers excellent paid DLC, huge amounts of substantive new content have been added 100% free for all players. This is thanks to Motion Twin‘s generous post-launch support. I‘d highly recommend any fans of action-platformers or roguelikes give the base game a shot. And if you love the core Dead Cells experience, the paid DLCs provide even more noteworthy content to extend your adventures in the ever-evolving world.