78
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2DPixel Art
Year 1988Dev Nintendo R&D4 · Nintendo
11 Melee games like Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant that you should try
Games like Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant · Find similar →
More about this game →Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.
We filtered the 27 games similar to Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant down to the 11 that fit the “Melee” category. Super Mario Bros. 2, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Blade Kitten top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant.
Quick answer
Within the “Melee” category, the closest game to Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant is Super Mario Bros. 2 — scoring 78/100 on our similarity scale. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Blade Kitten follow close behind.
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The best melee games like Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant
11 similar games foundUpdated May 2026
Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant. Each one has been evaluated across 6 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2DPixel Art
Steam👍 94%· 481IGDB83· 6OC86· 32
Year 2017Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2DCozy
Steam👍 83%· 1.1KRAWG👍 62%· 33MC52IGDB60· 1
Year 2010Dev AtariPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox
✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat
≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and cozy, relaxing feel
Hollow Wish CollectionThe Hollow Wish Collection Contains: The original game (Episode 1) Episode 2 The Hollow Wish Collection comic Soundtrack and Other Comics PackageThe Soundtrack and Other Comics Package contains all the content found in the Soundtrack and Remixes and Comics Pack - Dirty Angels…
Where it drifts furthest from Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant: setting.
It predates Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant by 9 years, with what that implies technically.
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals68Setting25
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DCasual
Steam👍 98%· 696
Year 2017Dev Viridino StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC
✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat
≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, while skipping fantasy world
Pinkman is a fast-paced, action platformer about a lost man with pink skin and an incredible skill to fart. Pinkman is set in deadly fantasy world called "The Mind", where many traps will try to cut your body in half when you struggle to discover what happened, and keep yourself alive.
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2D
Steam👍 86%· 14IGDB70· 1
Year 1994Dev Eurocom Entertainment Software · Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd.On PC
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DThird Person3D
Steam👍 94%· 25KIGDB75· 10
Year 2011Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC
✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat
≠ Its own twist: visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping fantasy world
It predates Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant by 8 years, with what that implies technically.
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals55
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DCasualCartoon
Steam👍 88%· 7.8KIGDB75· 13
Year 2013Dev Capcom · Disney InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Android
✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat
≠ Stands apart with vibe casual and setting cartoon, while skipping fantasy world
Where it drifts furthest from Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant: setting.
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DNarrativeHorror
Steam👍 40%· 3.7KIGDB75· 5
Year 2010Dev Dimps · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC
✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat
≠ Its own twist: horror tension, strong narrative focus and horror setting, while skipping fantasy world
Where it drifts furthest from Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant: setting.
It predates Dead Cells: Rise of the Giant by 9 years, with what that implies technically.
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2D
IGDB60· 1
Year 1993Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo
61
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2D
Year 1992Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DPixel Art
Steam👍 27%· 195
Year 2013Dev Boss BaddiePlaytime ~3hOn PC
✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus
≠ Its own twist: visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling
Wake is the story of an engineer trapped on a sinking ship. Navigate through the ship however you want to find your way to the surface above, but avoid the ship's corrupted security system!Key Features Run and swim to escape a sinking ship Dodge bullets, fire, electricity and LASERS - but most of all avoid drowning!
Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals72