Shovel Knight

 PC
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. The Escapist
    Jun 26, 2014
    70
    A fun action platformer that remains incredibly frustrating by taking a few too many cues from Castlevania's jerkiest moments, Shovel Knight is satisfying and infuriating in equal measure. It's also a damn fine callback to the days of yore in a world where callbacks are a dime a dozen, and rarely this well done.
  2. Eurogamer
    Jun 26, 2014
    70
    There is gold in these old genres, and Shovel Knight is a successful dig.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PC Game of 2014
60
#60 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
48
#48 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 551 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 426 out of 551
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 551
  3. Negative: 59 out of 551
  1. GBM_Fan
    Jun 26, 2014
    10
    You can describe "Shovel Knight" in one word: MASTERPIECE! Everything here is top notch, 8/16 bit graphics with modern touch, chiptune music,You can describe "Shovel Knight" in one word: MASTERPIECE! Everything here is top notch, 8/16 bit graphics with modern touch, chiptune music, responsive control and last but not least: addictive gameplay!

    GOTY 2014 for me.    … Full Review »
  2. Molvanian
    Dec 30, 2015
    0
    This game is old school Nintendo, at its best AND its worst. The problem is, no one makes games like this anymore for a reason.

    There's a    This game is old school Nintendo, at its best AND its worst. The problem is, no one makes games like this anymore for a reason.

    There's a lot of good to the game, the mechanics are interesting, the feel is very nostalgic, the sound track is amazing.

    ...The gameplay is not. It's frustrating, it's repetitive. It isn't 'hard'. Anyone can beat Shovel Knight. Anyone can walk through barbed wire. The experiences are very similar. Endure the pain long enough and eventually you win. At the end, you're unsatisfied. And bleeding.

    It boggles my mind the game is so well reviewed. I can only assume it's pure, unadulterated nostalgia blinding people to, what if viewed on it's own, would be a very average, flawed game, and this is coming from someone who owned an NES when it was new. Literally the target audience. Get Splunkey or La Mulana if you want a platformer.    … Full Review »
  3. Dhulfiqar
    Jul 1, 2014
    7
    This game have so many reference from old games that it does not bring much original content even in the platforming. Why do you need alwaysThis game have so many reference from old games that it does not bring much original content even in the platforming. Why do you need always copy the concepts of the old games? Why can't you create your own concepts making the game look as much original and reducing the feeling of "having played this before many times".

    Graphics and animations are good, but sometimes you feel that some of the enemy sprite does not even belong to the game environment. Controllers and it's physics needs to be upgraded, this is where most of the indies makes the same mistakes. The upgrade of health, armor and weapon is not interesting. The level design mostly is very good, but sometimes annoying. Sometimes the levels feels too long, making you thank the old mega man levels length.

    Music, very good, there are tracks that should added to best of video game music archive, but there are also song that sound very bizarre.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »