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Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is a love letter to those who grew up on side-scrolling action games. With excellent level design and presentation, this short and sweet platformer will satisfy any retro game fan.
Shovel Knight Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, stability
93% User Score Based on 838 reviews
Critic Score 88%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 4XboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationPlaystation VitaLinuxPCWii UTabletNintendo 3dsMac OSPhoneWiiXbox One
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Shovel Knight Game Cover

About

Shovel Knight is a single player and multiplayer platformer game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by Yacht Club Games and was released on December 10, 2019. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose we…

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Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
Shovel Knight screenshot
+15
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 838 reviews
gameplay40 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions
  • Shovel Knight is a delightful homage to classic 8-bit platformers, featuring unique levels and charming characters.
  • The game offers a satisfying blend of challenging gameplay and nostalgic aesthetics, with a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the experience.
  • It's a well-crafted platformer that balances difficulty and fun, making it rewarding for both casual and hardcore gamers.
  • Some players find the controls frustrating, particularly during boss fights where timing and precision are crucial.
  • The game can feel punishing at times, with instant-death traps and a lack of clarity in certain level designs.
  • While the game is enjoyable, it is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • gameplay
    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope" is characterized by its smooth mechanics, retro-inspired design, and engaging platforming elements, offering a blend of challenge and accessibility. Players appreciate the clever level design that introduces unique mechanics and puzzles, although some find certain aspects, like ice levels and co-op mechanics, frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its polished execution, charming graphics, and a delightful soundtrack, making it a rewarding experience for platformer enthusiasts.

    • “The game does so much with so little; the gameplay, graphics, music, etc., are all so fun and easy to understand, while at the same time providing an interesting and enjoyable experience.”
    • “The designs of the characters are great, the gameplay is challenging, clever, and uses its mechanics in many awesome ways. It's an amazing experience for lovers of platformers and completionists.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and thrilling, with challenging platforming and exciting boss battles.”
    • “But neither the platforming/jump 'n' run aspect nor the battle mechanics were anything mind-blowing.”
    • “Controls feel bad at times, gameplay loop is uninspiring, sound/sight are fine.”
    • “Stupid save mechanic that forces me to finish the level without quitting.”
  • music
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Shovel Knight is widely praised for its superb chiptune soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience and complements the game's retro aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke various emotions and its fittingness for each level, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the music is described as iconic, memorable, and a significant reason to engage with the game, even for those who may not wish to play it.

    • “The music is superb, with it really setting the stage for each level.”
    • “The soundtrack is delightful to hear and fitting to the levels, the level design is smart with new mechanics and enemies on each level.”
    • “Iconic indie game with absolute banger music and dope level/character design.”
    • “The sheer sound from this game reminds me more of the fire alarm than actual music.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, with its retro style and a soundtrack reminiscent of Mega Man (maybe 5 or 6, not the Mega Man soundtracks with memorable music like 2 or 3), but it's just not as clever as it thinks it is.”
    • “Sure this game is pretty good, but what the game is really doing well in is the soundtrack.”
  • graphics
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope" are widely praised for their charming 8-bit aesthetic, which successfully evokes nostalgia while delivering a polished visual experience. Reviewers highlight the game's memorable visuals, seamless integration with audio, and distinct level designs, all contributing to an immersive 2D world. Despite some criticisms regarding specific aesthetic choices, the overall consensus is that the graphics enhance the gameplay and narrative, making it a standout title in the platformer genre.

    • “The graphics are amazingly memorable for an 8-bit side-scrolling platformer.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous and take you back to an era before the advent of 3D models.”
    • “With its pixel graphics and bangin' bloopy soundtrack, it harkens back to a simpler, purer time.”
    • “That said, it is 8-bit graphics.”
    • “And then the graphics which is horribly bad.”
    • “I do have some actual complaints about the game, particularly the inability to move during grounded attacks making the controls feel clumsy, plus I didn't enjoy the aesthetics, even though I thought I would.”
  • story
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Shovel Knight is generally regarded as simple and somewhat generic, revolving around a classic hero versus evil organization narrative. However, it is praised for its charm, memorable characters, and solid pacing, with many players appreciating how the main story serves as a foundation for additional campaigns featuring different characters. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the story effectively enhances the gameplay experience and resonates well with the retro aesthetic of the game.

    • “The story and characters are all memorable in their own right, especially the Order of No Quarter.”
    • “Shovel Knight is a clever and well-crafted platforming throwback that tells a simple story really well and offers a meaty retro challenge.”
    • “The story, while being super simple, is also charming and feels satisfying.”
    • “The story is overall kinda generic but is still a great one where an evil organization rises and it's up to the hero to stop it, which fits the games back in the days of yore.”
    • “On a less technical note, while the story is by no means avant-garde, it is still solidly written.”
    • “Whilst the plot is quite basic, it's what the other campaigns built off of.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope" is consistently praised for its heartfelt and witty writing, featuring well-crafted dialogues and charming character interactions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor and entertaining character designs, which contribute to a polished and engaging platforming adventure. The game's blend of challenging gameplay and comedic elements makes it a delightful choice for both retro enthusiasts and families.

    • “Great music and funny, well-written dialogues and interactions between the characters.”
    • “It's got the tongue-in-cheek humor you want with the difficulty that old school platformer junkies crave.”
    • “The game is filled with charm and humor in all its characters, including the bosses.”
  • replayability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is highly praised for its replayability, appealing particularly to completionists and fans of platformers. Reviewers highlight its engaging gameplay, extra content, and nostalgic 8-bit graphics, making it a worthwhile pick for those seeking a game with lasting value.

    • “Fun gem with replay value for the completionists, definitely worth picking up.”
    • “If you are looking for a replayable good platformer, this is the thing to buy.”
    • “Also has lots of replay value.”
    • “Also has lots of replay value.”
    • “Top-notch 8-bit graphics with one of the best chiptune soundtracks ever composed, incredibly satisfying 2D platform gameplay, plenty of extra content and replayability.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is praised for its heartfelt and humorous writing, which adds emotional depth to the platforming experience. The game's characters and graphics contribute to a charming atmosphere that resonates with players, making it more than just a simple platformer.

    • “Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is a platformer with simple and succinct, but also surprisingly heartfelt and humorous writing, characters, graphics, and mechanics.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that glitches are rare, indicating a high level of stability in the game.

  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight the game's strong character design, noting it as a standout feature alongside its engaging music and levels. However, there is no specific mention of character development, suggesting that while characters are visually appealing, their growth or depth may not be a focal point in the game.

  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a harmonious blend of visuals and music, resulting in a unique and engaging experience, despite the graphics being described as merely fair.

    • “Overall, it's a fair-looking game, and the visuals and music blend together well, creating a very unique atmosphere.”
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88%Critics’ scoreBased on 14 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shovel Knight is a platformer game with fantasy and comedy themes.

Shovel Knight is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

Shovel Knight was released on December 10, 2019.

Shovel Knight was developed by Yacht Club Games.

Shovel Knight has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Shovel Knight is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Shovel Knight, The Messenger, Infernax, Castle In The Darkness, Rayman Origins and others.