Dead Cells' new Boss Rush update is out now on PC

Dead Cells, the superb rogue-like action-platformer from developers Motion Twin and subsidiary Evil Empire, has expanded once more, this time introducing a free Boss Rush mode – and an assortment of related rewards for those with sufficient skills – for players on PC.

Boss Rush mode is accessed through a basement door in the Prisoner’s Quarters and features four different stages to battle through. All four stages feature back-to-back bosses to defeat, one containing three bosses, another featuring five bosses, plus two more containing three and five enhanced bosses respectively. These enhanced bosses feature “more ways to kick your ass”, including new limbs, healing powers, and even some friends to help them.

Each of the four challenges feature bosses randomly selected from three tiers (although players must have encountered them in Normal mode before they appear), with three-boss challenges starting with a boss from Tier 1, then moving on to Tier 2, then Tier 3. Five-boss challenges feature two Tier 1 bosses, two Tier 2 bosses, then a final boss from Tier 3.

And if you’re wondering what each of those tiers consists of:

Tier 1ConciergeConjunctiviusMama Tick

Tier 2Time KeeperThe GiantThe Scarecrow

Tier 3Hand of the KingThe Servants (just the final fight)The Queen

At the start of each stage, players can choose between Brutality, Tactics, and Survival to imbue themselves with related stats and receive an associated amulet. Additionally, between each Tier sequence, players will gain access to an area featuring the likes of shops, items, weapon upgrade/re-rolls, mutation re-rolls, and health refills.