It's odd to consider that Dead Cells, the roguevania 2D action game from French studio Motion Twin, has been available now for nearly three and a half years. Further, Motion Twin continues to robustly support Dead Cells with post-launch content, expanding the already popular and successful game to a degree few expected – but all will gratefully accept. The latest example of Motion Twin's continued creative inspiration is The Queen and the Sea premium expansion, released alongside a new Dead Cells cinematic animated trailer.
In the trailer, players are once again reintroduced to Dead Cells' protagonist The Beheaded. The Beheaded appears to be where players last left them, stranded on the mysterious unnamed island in which the game is set. As they grow accustomed to their life as a castaway, their salvation appears to them – a golden ship filled with adoring fans. The Beheaded constructs their own ragtag boat to go and meet the ship, only for it to be sliced down the middle. The video then cuts to reveal the Dead Cells DLC's new setting and antagonist.
The Queen, as the DLC's name implies, stands in the way of The Beheaded. She wields a golden sword and, to the shock of the Beheaded, also has a head of purple smoke -- only with three crystals instead of just one. The Queen stands atop a tower, built upon a much smaller island off of Dead Cells' main island. It's now up to the Beheaded to reach this new location and, assumedly, to climb the tower and take on the Queen.
A message from Motion Twin says that if players can climb to the summit of The Queen and the Sea's lighthouse and light the beacon, perhaps they can "get off this cursed island." However, "your past won't let you go without a fight."
This is what could be the culmination of three and a half years of Dead Cells story and action. Players may recall hints that a certain "she" was looking for The Beheaded. That "she" could be the Queen, and she might have secrets for The Beheaded to discover.
The Queen and the Sea DLC is available to purchase and play now across all supported platforms. It is, much like Dead Cells' first two DLCs, premium. It'll cost $4.99 full price, but may be able to be acquired at a discount if bundled with Dead Cells and its other DLC. It includes all-new weapons, biomes, bosses, and endgame content for players to experience, and is officially the final premium DLC.
Dead Cells is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, as well as iOS and Android devices.