Dead Cells rival Dragon is Dead finally enters Steam 1.0 with a new character

If you've read anything I've written before, you know I love Dead Cells. The action roguelike is infinitely replayable, filled with tough fights, and has had a steady stream of updates and expansions over the last few years elevating it to new heights. If you adore Motion Twin's opus as much as I do, then, Dragon is Dead is a game you really need to check out. With a suitably dreary setting, fast-paced combat, and a lot of reasons to keep coming back, the Steam 1.0 version is finally here.

If you've played Blasphemous, Dead Cells, or Castlevania, you'll be instantly familiar with Dragon is Dead. Set on the backdrop of incredibly detailed gothic pixel art, this is an action platformer with a helping of roguelike elements.

Corruption has swept across the land, and so it's up to you to explore ever-shifting levels, increase your power, and rid the world of evil for good. As a Successor, you've been chosen by the gods for this task, and that just so happens to mean that when you die in battle, you come back to life.

Every run presents you with a different layout, new monsters, and changed loot composition. Just like in Dead Cells, then, the better you get at Dragon is Dead's combat and exploration, the swifter you'll become. When you die, which you will, you lose all your gold and temporary buffs, and the world reshapes itself, but you're not left completely defenseless. Your gear and runes are permanently preserved and become the basis of your next run.

Now that Dragon is Dead 1.0 is here, then, there are plenty of extra features to get stuck into. You can suit up as the hunter, a new playable character who uses a throwing spear and daggers alongside the abilities of various beasts. There are also 12 more legendary equipment items for the hunter, giving you plenty of ways to cut your enemies to ribbons. You'll need them, too, as 1.0 finally introduces the climactic story chapter and boss of Dragon is Dead.

There's also the new Mythic equipment grade that you unlock after defeating the last boss for the first time, which should give you an extra leg up as you face the hordes. That's not all, though, as there's now a difficulty customization system to test your limits. With 15 levels available, you can crank the challenge all the way up to Nightmare and face even tougher enemies while massively weakening yourself. If you enjoy the difficulty options in Hades and Dead Cells as much as I do, Dragon is Dead has exactly what you need.

Dragon is Dead 1.0 is available on Steam right now with a 10% discount until Friday June 13, so you can expect to pay $17.99 / £15.07. Just head here.

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