Shovel Knight

 PC
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

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  1. churros
    Aug 5, 2023
    9
    Pros:
    + perfect length
    + great pixel art
    + good music
    + great level design
    + fun to use powerups

    Cons:
    - some repetitive tracks
  2. PanchaMiguela
    Mar 4, 2023
    9
    It is quite a simple game, but it is incredibly addictive and challenging, enjoyed it a lot.
  3. edxtan
    Feb 25, 2023
    6
    Shovel Knight is a solid platformer with a few frustrating levels. The items add some leniency but are usually too inconvenient to swap between.
  4. Izoeros
    Jan 4, 2023
    7
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  5. Mene0
    Nov 13, 2022
    8
    Shovel Knight: 8/10 great game, classic, feels the most balanced of all

    Plague Knight: 7/10 has some problems, like combat just feels inferior than others, but still quite enjoyable Specter Knight: 10/10 best combat, story and platforming, although has some **** moments imo King Knight: 5/10 barely could bother myself to finish, card game is unfun and both combat and platforming    Shovel Knight: 8/10 great game, classic, feels the most balanced of all

    Plague Knight: 7/10 has some problems, like combat just feels inferior than others, but still quite enjoyable

    Specter Knight: 10/10 best combat, story and platforming, although has some **** moments imo

    King Knight: 5/10 barely could bother myself to finish, card game is unfun and both combat and platforming are also worst in the series. The ending was cool, though.

    Overall incredible platforming experience, highly recommend.    … Expand
  6. StarkAgentos
    Apr 12, 2022
    4
    Красивая игра в стиле ретро с обычным геймплеем платформера. Я дошёл до непроодимого босса, у которого больше здоровья и скорость, чем у ГГ. Обязательно было делать эту игру такой непроходимой?!
  7. Haekan
    Apr 29, 2021
    10
    My favorite indie game ever. It's something special when an indie like this nails everything in its own terms.
  8. TheHound1
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    An homage to old NES classics but with better, more refined mechanics.
    Great style, great game design, fun as hell gameplay, amazing bosses, each stage feels unique and different, overall this game kicks ass. In my opinion one of the greatest games of this generation.
  9. Keskin
    Jul 19, 2020
    1
    it is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is badit is bad
  10. FrostormNidhegg
    Mar 23, 2020
    9
    Современная игра, сделанная по мотивам 8-битных игр. Хорошая, интересная, каждый замок отличается и визуально, и в плане игрового процесса. Боссы неплохие, некоторые не сбалансированные и скорее убиваются за счет везения. Стоит правда на мой взгляд многовато, особенно по сравнению с Мессенджером. В целом - игра очень хороша, всем фанатом 8-битных платформеров соверуюСовременная игра, сделанная по мотивам 8-битных игр. Хорошая, интересная, каждый замок отличается и визуально, и в плане игрового процесса. Боссы неплохие, некоторые не сбалансированные и скорее убиваются за счет везения. Стоит правда на мой взгляд многовато, особенно по сравнению с Мессенджером. В целом - игра очень хороша, всем фанатом 8-битных платформеров соверую
  11. pedraww
    Dec 8, 2019
    8
    Awesome tribute to the 16 bits era. Great game, great bosses, and a f*cking SHOVEL as weapon.
  12. Aston_Morris99
    May 18, 2019
    9
    an amazing throwback to the golden age of gaming complete with great visual, fun plat forming ,challenging boss fights and new game plus and challenge mode to keep you coming back all & all worth you time
  13. kelvinsanchez15
    Jan 16, 2019
    8
    Para todos los amantes de los juegos de plataforma Shovel Knight es un juego que debes jugar si o si, tiene un gameplay fluido, curva de dificultad bien trabajada, OST de alto nivel y una aventura/historia inolvidable.
  14. OrlandoPloom
    Nov 1, 2018
    10
    Hear me, hear me, here is my love for a game that makes me rise my shovel up and pretend it's a good weapon. Always great feeling to kill someone with a shovel. MASTERPIECE 2/10. No, seriously, a masterpiece.
  15. Guishu
    Apr 25, 2018
    9
    Let me address this before anything: My thought process for my reviews are obviously personal BUT I do take into account a lot of objective factors (Not other people's reviews though.) Just keep that in mind so you can understand why I couldn't give this game a perfect 10.
    Shovel Knight is my favorite platformer in the last 5 years. I don't think any other game comes close. However it is    Let me address this before anything: My thought process for my reviews are obviously personal BUT I do take into account a lot of objective factors (Not other people's reviews though.) Just keep that in mind so you can understand why I couldn't give this game a perfect 10.
    Shovel Knight is my favorite platformer in the last 5 years. I don't think any other game comes close. However it is also true this game is just what I expect from my perfect platformer. So my perfect score turns into a almost perfect score when I take into account some factors. Rogue-likes and RPGs go very well together. Adding platforming to the mix is not an easy task. I really want to know how in the world Yacht Club Games made it look as easy as counting to three.
    Amazing art, Inspired enemies and levels, cool bosses and some over world goodies? Yes please. Shovel Knight does it all, and it does it great. I love this game and I love the creators for making it. I expect big things from them know, so I'll guess we will see.
    Shovel knight suffers from one thing though: It is not that original. It may seem like it, but I wish I had seen at least one mechanic that I would have never seen coming. That would make it a 10 out of 10 review worthy game. A 9 is still a must play with me.    … Expand
  16. aditya1101
    Jan 6, 2018
    10
    A lot of great retro platformers have popped up recently, but few have felt as great to play as shovel knight. This game perfectly captures the ability of retro platformers to have fairly simple core mechanics but to scale immensely in difficulty. This is a game where every level felt super fun to play through over and over again until I had mastered it. Also, it has an incredible soundtrack :D
  17. B-Knock
    Apr 10, 2017
    7
    Overrated and extremely boring to play. The game play is not addictive and truly nothing special. If you want to play retro games. Pick up a real NES or just buy the NES classic. You can even emulate old NES games. Shovel knight is just a rehash of Duck tales and Mega Man with a new original story. However nothing is new about the game mechanics or style of the game. This game received soOverrated and extremely boring to play. The game play is not addictive and truly nothing special. If you want to play retro games. Pick up a real NES or just buy the NES classic. You can even emulate old NES games. Shovel knight is just a rehash of Duck tales and Mega Man with a new original story. However nothing is new about the game mechanics or style of the game. This game received so much fan fare and high ratings because of this whole retro gaming trend that is currently going on. Developers are taking advantage of this fact and allows them to release low quality games like this, and make a quick buck off retro nostalgia.… Expand
  18. hypernewbie
    Mar 16, 2017
    4
    Anyone who reviews this game 10 should immediately go get an actual NES and play actual good oldschool games.

    The shovel knight just feels like **** to control, very clunkey, especially mid-air. The stairs just make no sense in this game, at all. You will die on nearly every staircase in the game. Level cycles are too random to be memorized. Enemies are RNG galore and always feel    Anyone who reviews this game 10 should immediately go get an actual NES and play actual good oldschool games.

    The shovel knight just feels like **** to control, very clunkey, especially mid-air. The stairs just make no sense in this game, at all. You will die on nearly every staircase in the game.

    Level cycles are too random to be memorized. Enemies are RNG galore and always feel like they move faster than you giving you no time to react, UNLESS you wait for them. There aren't enough checkpoints.

    Should I mention the **** feel of the control again? Shovel knight controls like a rock. Just go outside, pick up a really big rock and move that around, and you will get the general feel of moving shovel knight through the levels.

    Game isn't bad, it's okay. The presentation is the best part of it, oldschool gfx are well done, especially the animations, they are amazing. Music is great too. They got so carried away with the presentation that they forgot to like, actually make the game.    … Expand
  19. everin
    Feb 6, 2017
    7
    TIER 2

    + Obviously pays strong respects to that which inspired it, but comes out on top as feeling more polished, dense, and masterfully executed than many retro games. + A very good mixture of level mechanics and themes, and while the player has limited mobility and attacks, the levels provide new tools and experiences time and time again. ? The spell system is interesting in    TIER 2

    + Obviously pays strong respects to that which inspired it, but comes out on top as feeling more polished, dense, and masterfully executed than many retro games.
    + A very good mixture of level mechanics and themes, and while the player has limited mobility and attacks, the levels provide new tools and experiences time and time again.
    ? The spell system is interesting in providing a variety of new tools, but ultimately feels like mixed bag random additional mechanics that reduce the tight execution of the title.
    ? The tedium of some of the boss fights makes it too easy to be tempted into using the invincibility mechanics on offer to cheese combat.
    - The base movement and combat systems, while true to retro games, often don't feel good to use. The lack of directional attacks make many of the enemies nothing but annoying unless you happen to click with what's on offer.    … Expand
  20. Gigaflops
    Dec 1, 2016
    10
    Solo para nostalgicos de los 8 bits. Los niñosrata nunca entenderán este tipo de juegos. Un 10 para este fantástico juego que te devuelve a la epoca de los 80/90.
  21. Captain_Chaos
    Jun 22, 2016
    8
    Rarely have I so enjoyed a game that so persistently made me rage, or made me care for an 8-bit sprite as much as I cared for Shield Knight, but Shovel Knight is just that game. An affectionate homage to the golden age of console gaming, Shovel Knight comes to us from former members of Wayforward Technologies, creators of the Shantae series. The game's incredibly varied stages play outRarely have I so enjoyed a game that so persistently made me rage, or made me care for an 8-bit sprite as much as I cared for Shield Knight, but Shovel Knight is just that game. An affectionate homage to the golden age of console gaming, Shovel Knight comes to us from former members of Wayforward Technologies, creators of the Shantae series. The game's incredibly varied stages play out like a greatest hits album of classic platformers. But unlike, say, Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania, Shovel Knight never feels cheap or punishing. The game is filled with a lovable cast of characters, excellent music (courtesy of the ineffable Virt Kaufman, the musical genius behind Contra 4, Scurge: Hive, Shantae, and several other games), useful powerups and hair-pulling jumping puzzles. The controls are extremely tight, and any mistakes you make are your own damn fault. The game rather mercifully makes use of checkpoints, only depriving you of money when you die, money you have a chance to retrieve when you make it back to where you died. And even if you don't, you can always farm for more, and you will need quite a bit to buy all the upgrades. I had to take a few breaks over the course of playing Shovel Knight to cool off, but I kept coming back until I was done. I do not regret for a second backing this lovely game on kickstarter. If you enjoy platformers and classic NES era gaming in general, then grab yourself a copy of Shovel Knight and prepare to strike the earth!… Expand
  22. SMGamer
    Jun 2, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. WARNING:This review contains spoilers, so if you don't want to hear spoilers, then don't press the button Expand.This game is perfect! It's well done, the controls are tight, smooth and amazing graphics and backgrounds, and to top it all off, the gameplay is amazing!! I love the bosses, especially Plague Knight and The Enchantress. I can't forget the second phase of the enchantress when you down-stab on Shield Knight's shield and smacking the Enchantress' head with my shovel, using my favorite Relic: The Propeller Dagger to continue stabbing her mercilessly till she dies! God, everything is amazing!… Expand
  23. jacob4
    Apr 9, 2016
    10
    An absolute classic and masterpiece! Shovel Knight combines all the things we loved from the old classic 8-bit games like Mario, Metroid, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc. with some Dark Souls leveled difficulty even added in. This game has great action and adventure, lovable characters, great soundtrack, gorgeous 8-bit graphic, and an awesome story. An absolute must play and one of the bestAn absolute classic and masterpiece! Shovel Knight combines all the things we loved from the old classic 8-bit games like Mario, Metroid, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc. with some Dark Souls leveled difficulty even added in. This game has great action and adventure, lovable characters, great soundtrack, gorgeous 8-bit graphic, and an awesome story. An absolute must play and one of the best games of the year.… Expand
  24. zamapa
    Jan 24, 2016
    10
    I have never owned an NES, I have never played an NES game yet I still love this game. It has solid controls and teaches through game-play instead of text. You constantly obtain new abilities in the game, and encounter new enemies and objects. The level design is extremely clever, teaching you something in a low stress situation, and later adding pressure to test you on what you'veI have never owned an NES, I have never played an NES game yet I still love this game. It has solid controls and teaches through game-play instead of text. You constantly obtain new abilities in the game, and encounter new enemies and objects. The level design is extremely clever, teaching you something in a low stress situation, and later adding pressure to test you on what you've learned.

    The graphics and music and charming, and I think they're great even though I have no nostalgia for them. The story is simple and skip able, I couldn't ask for much more. The game become's very challenging, and even though it teaches the mechanics of levels well before you encounter them in a deadly situation, you can still die in some cheap ways. The game is full of adorable characters, and it never felt like it was wasting my time. If I didn't want to talk to a character I usually didn't have to, and if I did I could skip their dialogue if I wanted.

    This is one of my favorite platformers mostly because of the amazing level design. There is so much polish on every detail of this game and it's noticeable. It's fun, and even though the gameplay can be unforgiving checkpoints are frequent and give you some breathing room. This entire game is an example of a great tutorial.    … Expand
  25. 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 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    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.    … Expand
  26. Platinum48
    Nov 24, 2015
    10
    This is one of the few platform games sold on Steam that are not spiritual successors of other series to get along in campaigns to raise funds and it was no wonder, the game is quite challenging, is with graphics that much resemble the 8-bit games, and has an interesting plot . I recommend this game for the nostalgic duty that has money to spend on Steam. Your money paid will not be in vain
  27. Uygar
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    Shovel Knight is a 2014 2D side-scrolling platform game, developed and published by independent video game developer Yacht Club Games. Following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, the game was initially released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U in June 2014, and ports of the game for OS X and Linux followed in September of the same year.
  28. SkySlam
    Oct 4, 2015
    8
    Retro masterpiece! Great platformer inspired by amazing titles from the NES days. Being a fan of MegaMan, I can't help but recommend this little jewel. Controls are smooth, the music is cool, the graphics are nice and the levels are cleverly designed to entertain the player without frustrating him/her too much.
    The duration of the story mode is pretty short (5-7 hours), be aware of that.    Retro masterpiece! Great platformer inspired by amazing titles from the NES days. Being a fan of MegaMan, I can't help but recommend this little jewel. Controls are smooth, the music is cool, the graphics are nice and the levels are cleverly designed to entertain the player without frustrating him/her too much.
    The duration of the story mode is pretty short (5-7 hours), be aware of that. Still totally worth the money in my opinion.    … Expand
  29. sh4dow
    Oct 4, 2015
    10
    Wow, I think this is the first time that I agree more with the critics than the users on this site. By now, thanks to the free DLC, I've now sunk over 20 hours into this game and it is still a blast. I don't get what's not to like about it. The controls are spot-on, the gameplay is retro yet modern (check points, automatic saving) and similar things go for the visuals (it's 8 bit style butWow, I think this is the first time that I agree more with the critics than the users on this site. By now, thanks to the free DLC, I've now sunk over 20 hours into this game and it is still a blast. I don't get what's not to like about it. The controls are spot-on, the gameplay is retro yet modern (check points, automatic saving) and similar things go for the visuals (it's 8 bit style but animations usually weren't as refined back then and the color palette not as varied). Also lots of content and unlockables. This is probably in my Top 3 of the last few years.… Expand
  30. mg96
    Sep 17, 2015
    9
    Some people say it's a retro game, it looks old bla bla bla... . shovel knight is one of the best indie games ever and there is no reason to hate this game. great boss fight, great humor, great music and great graphic.
    some games like shovel knight are much better in 8-bit because for someone like me it brings childhood memories and for someone who never played old school games, shovel    Some people say it's a retro game, it looks old bla bla bla... . shovel knight is one of the best indie games ever and there is no reason to hate this game. great boss fight, great humor, great music and great graphic.
    some games like shovel knight are much better in 8-bit because for someone like me it brings childhood memories and for someone who never played old school games, shovel knight is something new. with great and challenging gameplay and unforgettable musics it's stupid to hate this game just because of the old school style of the game.    … Expand
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. Gamer.nl
    Nov 13, 2014
    85
    Shovel Knight is a beautiful tribute to the era that used to be. With it's graphics and gameplay it refers to 8-bit games, but it does have a unique touch of its own. It might be a bit short, but it sure has a strong personality.
    Read full review
  2. GameStar
    Nov 1, 2014
    82
    A modern retro platformer that plays in the same league as the classics.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Oct 22, 2014
    90
    If you spent your childhood playing DuckTales, Super Marios Bros. or Contra on your NES, no one can convince you that a pixel art indie game can bring that feeling back. Except for Shovel Knight. Shovel Knight can. [Sept 2014, p.68]
See all critic reviews »