Shovel Knight

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 449 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 324 out of 449
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 449
  3. Negative: 65 out of 449
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. ClassyDevo
    May 5, 2015
    2
    Homage to old school games or rip off? This is just another repetitive, boring platformer. Plain and simple it's nothing special, it just takes from every old 8-bit game. Not worth the $15!
  2. houjo2000
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    I am not huge into 2D platformers, even as a child they were never my forte, so I was tempted to give this game a pass. I'm glad I didn't- this may be my favourite indie game since Castle Crashers.

    Everything about this game works. It takes the recognizable style and retro graphics of Mega Man, and makes a control scheme and level lay out that is not only unique and their own- but works    I am not huge into 2D platformers, even as a child they were never my forte, so I was tempted to give this game a pass. I'm glad I didn't- this may be my favourite indie game since Castle Crashers.

    Everything about this game works. It takes the recognizable style and retro graphics of Mega Man, and makes a control scheme and level lay out that is not only unique and their own- but works perfectly. The addition of free, well done DLC the size of the base game is just going above and beyond.

    The game works brilliantly- bringing in plenty of things you'll recognize from NES (Mega Man bosses/boss rush, Super Mario 3 map encounters), quick and precise controls, great level variety. It tells a simple, cute story without wasting my time- letting me get straight into the action.

    There's a lot of replay value and collectibles as well, and of course NG+ which definitely increases the challenge.

    Highly recommend this game.    … Expand
  3. Zimbardo
    May 17, 2015
    5
    This is a solid platformer and I think the devs did an amazing job for what they set out to make. But I guess that old school platformers just aren't that fun anymore.

    This was like taking a time machine back to my youth only to realize that the games that i was so nostalgic about weren't really that great.
  4. KidCritc
    May 22, 2015
    10
    Retro-gamers are transported to heaven with this game the story is simple but emotional the gameplay can rival huge games like super mario world and the controls are tight in my opinion one of the best games of all time no doubt.
  5. FogCityRoller
    Jun 25, 2015
    10
    In a world where people rate actually rate the graphics of games based on what they are instead of what they are not, Shovel Knight is everything it is supposed to be. From a gameplay perspective it is a stellar nod to the 8-bit icons of the past. It excels everywhere from story to mechanics to screen design.
  6. Grigann
    May 4, 2015
    9
    Excellent old-school plate-former, combining various gameplay elements from classics like Super Mario 3, Mega Man or Duck Tales with a simple but nevertheless good story, great levels, great bosses, great trophies, and an incredible soundtrack.
  7. endtransmission
    May 4, 2015
    9
    Excellent game.

    The people that are saying this is overpriced are insane. Every screen, every song, every bit of text: all made very lovingly and bursting with charm. Great gameplay with simple mechanics but a lot of variety in which to use it - which makes the game fresh at most turns. It has elements, of: Dark Souls (Repeating sections to perfection, having to recover your cash),    Excellent game.

    The people that are saying this is overpriced are insane. Every screen, every song, every bit of text: all made very lovingly and bursting with charm. Great gameplay with simple mechanics but a lot of variety in which to use it - which makes the game fresh at most turns. It has elements, of: Dark Souls (Repeating sections to perfection, having to recover your cash), Zelda/Megaman (Equipment, format (in places)), Super Mario World (Music and graphics in places).

    Difficulty is actually quite high depending on how you play the game, you can use a standard armour set to increase the difficulty if it's not quite as tough as you'd like. It's not Dark Souls hard but it's pleasingly difficult.

    Story is whatever but the game is all about gameplay and the writing is supernaturally charming and nicely written, taking loving jabs at classic, genre-specific cliches.

    Graphics are lovingly made and perfect for the job.

    Some people will complain that it's too short but for the money it isn't short at all. Roughly 10 hours of gameplay on a normal playthrough and then a NG+ option.

    In short: It's the most legitimate homage to old-school gaming I've ever played and to someone like me that's in his early 30s and played games through the NES and SNES era it's a legitimate joy to play.    … Expand
  8. Jreilly89
    Oct 6, 2015
    10
    Shovel Knight is a classic gamer's wet dream. The game is near perfect, offering tight controls, a kicking soundtrack, great backgrounds, memorable bosses, and a decent storyline. The game throws plenty of challenges your way, with some stages being almost too difficult. There is also plenty of challenge to be had in the extra modes, as well as secrets and easter eggs. On top of this,Shovel Knight is a classic gamer's wet dream. The game is near perfect, offering tight controls, a kicking soundtrack, great backgrounds, memorable bosses, and a decent storyline. The game throws plenty of challenges your way, with some stages being almost too difficult. There is also plenty of challenge to be had in the extra modes, as well as secrets and easter eggs. On top of this, Yacht Club Games just released free DLC of Plague of Shadows, a great continuation, in addition to the two free DLCs they'd released previously. At $15, this game is an absolute steal, and truly a classic among great games.… Expand
  9. AbyssTreader
    Aug 26, 2015
    10
    This game is a love letter to old titles like Mega Man. After all the purest form of flattery is imitation, and yet Shovel knight manages to be nostalgic and quite new and unique at the same time. The controls are simple and intuitive. The stages are varied and imaginative, ranging from underwater levels to flying airships, with each one introducing some new mechanic to challenge you. TheThis game is a love letter to old titles like Mega Man. After all the purest form of flattery is imitation, and yet Shovel knight manages to be nostalgic and quite new and unique at the same time. The controls are simple and intuitive. The stages are varied and imaginative, ranging from underwater levels to flying airships, with each one introducing some new mechanic to challenge you. The boss fights are simply fun. Rest assured that the order of no quarter is one of the most impressive rogue gallery you will ever come across. With a few RPG themed mechanics and some old staples of the genre Shovel Knight can surely be attractive to a large crowd.With a lot of replay value this game is over all a must have, for both players who want to take a trip down memory lane, or newcomers. As an an indie title with a lot of love in the making as well as a lot of new content coming in the future I recommend Shovel Knight to any player who is looking for a good time.… Expand
  10. CntrlAltDel101
    Oct 1, 2015
    9
    This game is retro done right. There are a lot of half baked 2D platformers flooding the market these days with the majority of them feeling stale and repetative.

    Excellent level design, tough game play and oozing with 8bit charm this game is easily one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played sitting comfortably alongside the likes of the classic Super Mario games. If you like a    This game is retro done right. There are a lot of half baked 2D platformers flooding the market these days with the majority of them feeling stale and repetative.

    Excellent level design, tough game play and oozing with 8bit charm this game is easily one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played sitting comfortably alongside the likes of the classic Super Mario games.

    If you like a bit of retro gaming then this one definitely deserves your time.    … Expand
  11. GreenMachineG
    Jan 25, 2016
    8
    Shovel Knight is a very solid platformer. Good fun, and replay-ability. The game did fail to keep me interested however. The gameplay mechanics felt a little wonky at times, and didn't feel very good to me. I also found myself dying way too often due to missing a jump and not timing the enemies correctly. A good game for sure, and I would recommend it, but keep your expectations tempered.Shovel Knight is a very solid platformer. Good fun, and replay-ability. The game did fail to keep me interested however. The gameplay mechanics felt a little wonky at times, and didn't feel very good to me. I also found myself dying way too often due to missing a jump and not timing the enemies correctly. A good game for sure, and I would recommend it, but keep your expectations tempered. The old-school game lover of Metroid, Mega Man or the like should definitely feel some nostalgia with this game, but if you didn't play those or weren't fans of them I would move past this title.

    7.5/10    … Expand
  12. ThePigeonManCan
    Feb 20, 2016
    10
    I have never played such a wholesome game. All together it's a beautiful story with fantastic characters....And free DLC ? Yacht Club Games got this right. 10/10
  13. Wineneeder
    Apr 24, 2018
    9
    An exceptional game that does retro-graphics right, everything is simple but beautiful, with interesting use of color and animation. The music is retro too and quite charming and there's plenty of it. I'm sure they were more hardware limited than I imagine, but if Cave Story is the best SNES game not on SNES, then Shovel Knight is the best NES game of 2015.

    This takes all the best    An exceptional game that does retro-graphics right, everything is simple but beautiful, with interesting use of color and animation. The music is retro too and quite charming and there's plenty of it. I'm sure they were more hardware limited than I imagine, but if Cave Story is the best SNES game not on SNES, then Shovel Knight is the best NES game of 2015.

    This takes all the best gameplay features of platformers, metroidvanias, and even modern games (dark souls-like "money" loss and retrieval, etc) and makes a wonderful experience.

    And HELLO!? There's three freaking expansions to it. I am only maybe 2 3rds done with the first, but it has been very fun and very much different from the original gameplay, even if some levels are full on reprisals. There's also even more unlocks, attacks, double jumps, triple jumps, powers, gadgets... It can be difficult to make them work together at first, but once you do, Plague Knight is a bouncy, exploding, firey bat of hell.

    9/10, not perfect for the levels being largely unchanged, though there is new content. This score may change as I finish the expansions.    … Expand
  14. skatevid
    Apr 27, 2015
    10
    Fantastic homage to old school video games. The great gameplay makes you forget about the graphics, that some may complain about, and immerse you heavily into the game. Play this game **** cause it's only like $10.
  15. PureGamer
    Jun 23, 2015
    7
    Well if you were born in the 70's & 80's and grew up with games like the Mega Man series then you cant help but love a bit of retro gaming 8-bit action.
    Shovel Knight has that retro appeal that some of us 'more experienced' gamers crave but it also has the ability to entice the younger audience with its fast pace and charm. For the price you can’t really argue that the developers have    Well if you were born in the 70's & 80's and grew up with games like the Mega Man series then you cant help but love a bit of retro gaming 8-bit action.
    Shovel Knight has that retro appeal that some of us 'more experienced' gamers crave but it also has the ability to entice the younger audience with its fast pace and charm. For the price you can’t really argue that the developers have produced a game of basic capabilities and asked you to pay the world which makes it an attractive proposition. If you are a sucker for a throwback then do not hesitate but if you are more into your fast pace, intricate, mind blowing RPG's & Shooters then perhaps this one might pass you by; after all an 8-bit platform game so do not expect to be blown away.
    What it does offer is fun filled gaming with a decent soundtrack that immerses you in the game.

    .................BUT saying all that we are living in the 21st century and I can not help but feel that a console which possesses so much power is being asked to run the style of games that I enjoyed in the 1980's. These games are hardly state of the art and it seems a shame that we tend to move backwards rather than forwards in our quest for fun; still that is by no means a swipe at the game itself; it does exactly what it sets out to do and for that you can only applaud it.    … Expand
  16. SuperkenGaming
    Apr 30, 2015
    10
    Shovel Knight
    A must Play For all
    Shovel Knight is a beautifully charming action platforming game. Shovel Knights art style screams nostalgia sale, but I was happy to find that this game isn’t just here to pull money out of your pockets with heart strings, Shovel Knight is it’s own game, an instant classic. Shovel knight consists of 12 main levels all with their own boss battles, each    Shovel Knight
    A must Play For all
    Shovel Knight is a beautifully charming action platforming game.
    Shovel Knights art style screams nostalgia sale, but I was happy to find that this game isn’t just here to pull money out of your pockets with heart strings, Shovel Knight is it’s own game, an instant classic.
    Shovel knight consists of 12 main levels all with their own boss battles, each level and stage getting progressively more challenging.
    The pacing is really some of the best ive ever seen in gaming.
    Every level has checkpoints, this may annoy the hardcore gamers at first, but you really come to appreciate them, platforming can get really trick for those of us that are impatient.
    These type of gamers are who the checkpoints are for, they are essentially training wheels.
    Shovel Knight is really more than just a flat forming game, it truly is an experience, and im happy these checkpoints exist so all can experience and guess what… checkpoints are COMPLETELY optional.
    Don’t like them?
    Break them, they drop cash so now you have nothing to complain about.
    I wouldn’t recommend doing such a thing your first time through as again, shovel knight gets increasingly challenging.
    Enemies will start throwing projectiles, youll have to dodge lava and spikes and look out for enemies while you seek out secrets.
    There are tons of secrets to be found in shovel knight that I wont spoil, but they add such a great deal of wonder to the game, you never know what youre going to find in a room you just uncovered from an exploding rat.
    It could be a music page for you to sell in the villiage, or a new relic waiting for you to grab to help you out through the rest of the game.
    I wasn’t expecting relics, but im so happy they exist, these relics all cost magic to use so cant really be spammed, but they are all varied and make you look at levels for better, more efficient ways to traverse them.
    You can also save your gold for armour and shovel upgrades, maybe increased magic or meal tickets to increase your health, the choice is yours, but unless youre completely confident in your skills walking into an unknown area you better make that choice before going back out, because every time you die you drop 3 pouches of gold much like in the souls series.
    If you want that gold back youre going to have to go grab it, if you die on your way back then its gone forever..
    The risk reward makes traversing these gorgeous levels even more enjoyable.
    Not only did this development team due a great job with level design and enemies, but also with bosses.
    Each boss has its own attack style, so no 2 relics will be equally handy in these encounters, gratefully though, they all die the same way, hit them an x amount of times.
    Games can get in the habit of making bosses a little too unique, what shovel knight does so great is make the encounters similar enough to give you a sense of pride and feeling like you used skill to defeat a new enemy rather than you just got completely lucky.
    It isn’t common to die during your first encounter with a new boss and that is so refreshing.
    I wont get into story all too much, but I will say that it is there, there is reason to the madness and it, at least to me is beautiful.
    After you’ve completed the game and have picked every level apart for its secrets and treasures, you have the option to start a new game +.
    New game plus lets you start from the beginning with everything you collected in your previous play through, but this time levels are a little tougher as youll notice some checkpoints are missing, enemies do double damage, and there are no health pick ups.
    There are tons of challenging feats to accomplish in shovel knight.
    Totally worth the playthrough just to experience, a highly recommended game title to both casual and hardcore gamers alike.
    I truly believe that everyone can find something to love about shovel knight.
    For what it is
    Action platformer 10/10
    and as an overall game my first ever 10/10    … Expand
  17. SaxPower
    Aug 12, 2015
    0
    in 2010, it woud have been a nice little amateur project on the net, trying to create a rom for the NES console. Today, it's one of the best rated game on the PS4... has everyone in the game industry become total dumbass ?
  18. mumbles
    Apr 27, 2015
    9
    Fantastic 8-bit throwback title. I know lots of people are probably sick of the retro indies on systems like the PS4 but this game truly does live up to the hype with it's fantastic soundtrack, pixel art and controls as well as humour. If you're into retro gaming I say give this a spin and if not, maybe wait for a sale. The huge bonus is that it's cross-buy/save... so you can buy it onceFantastic 8-bit throwback title. I know lots of people are probably sick of the retro indies on systems like the PS4 but this game truly does live up to the hype with it's fantastic soundtrack, pixel art and controls as well as humour. If you're into retro gaming I say give this a spin and if not, maybe wait for a sale. The huge bonus is that it's cross-buy/save... so you can buy it once and get it for the PS4/Vita/PS3 and play it across all platforms. The only big downside to this is that the cross save isn't automatic like Fez. You have to manually upload/download each time you want to save/load to/from the cloud. Don't listen to all the haters that want to play COD shooters or are just into games for the graphics. It's GOTY material.… Expand
  19. keithjonjonson
    Oct 24, 2015
    2
    This game is everything a retro game shouldn't be. The only retro feel it gives is the lack of tight and precise controls. When you win or lose based on control scheme, that takes the worst part of games pre-90's and shoves it down your throat. There are MUCH better retro games out there. Trust me, if you are under 50 don't waste your money.
  20. AkodoRyu
    Apr 28, 2015
    9
    The game is tight as hell. Pretty much perfect execution for the genre.
    It's also a lot of fun, It's been a while since I've played such purely fun game.
  21. pithing_needle
    May 21, 2015
    8
    By 8 bit platforming standards, it does it's job. Problem is that I did this all back in the 80's. People, especially you folks under 20....go on ebay, bid on an NES , an SNES, or a Genesis....pick up a few platformers, and have yourself a ball. Then ask yourself why cynical little indie devs continue to crank out cliches. They are riding on the coat-tails of their predecessors and areBy 8 bit platforming standards, it does it's job. Problem is that I did this all back in the 80's. People, especially you folks under 20....go on ebay, bid on an NES , an SNES, or a Genesis....pick up a few platformers, and have yourself a ball. Then ask yourself why cynical little indie devs continue to crank out cliches. They are riding on the coat-tails of their predecessors and are adding NOTHING to the mix. This game is at best a final project for a game design degree. For heaven's sake, if your gonna do the whole retro chunky graphics thing, get original.

    Having said that, to be fair, the game works. It's actually quite good. I may have even liked it about 25 years ago. That's why it deserves an 8 out of 10. But the developers deserve a 3 for exhuming the remains of games that died in 86, reanimating them, and passing them off as new.    … Expand
  22. unclomz
    Oct 4, 2015
    4
    Let me start of by saying I have been playing 2d platformers for maybe close to 25 years they are my favouritegenre of game by a mile from captain keen to donkey kong tropical freeze I am there and I will complete them.

    Anway I wanted like this game. I had high hope from it. In reality to me its a ish mash of duck yales pogo stick and wom3 shoveling, not steam world dig levelk    Let me start of by saying I have been playing 2d platformers for maybe close to 25 years they are my favouritegenre of game by a mile from captain keen to donkey kong tropical freeze I am there and I will complete them.

    Anway I wanted like this game. I had high hope from it.
    In reality to me its a ish mash of duck yales pogo stick and wom3 shoveling, not steam world dig levelk shoveling i mean the boring kinf.
    The graphics are diharea I am sorry but a little more efoort dont give this 8 bit 16 bit bolloks Hokus Pokus made by apogee in the erlly 90s is leaps and bounds better its taht little polished touch i feel its missing. he music drove me insane.

    The one thing saving this game to me were hidden parts of the map im a sucker for that stuff and thats why i colppeted the game.

    Would i reccomened meh.
    NO
    is it overgyped.
    YES
    Isi tow roth 10 to 12 pound
    NO its worth 6.99 thankyou

    Sorry Il shut up now
    Its borderline crap

    on steam play freedom planet tesla grad the list goes on    … Expand
  23. Markolius
    Apr 27, 2015
    9
    Fun gameplay, great personality, and well-paced. It's one of the best side scrollers in years, retro or otherwise. Think classic mega man with a humorous fantasy theme. Definitely worth having in your PS4's digital library if you don't already have it elsewhere.
  24. MisterBirdy
    May 4, 2015
    5
    When are the reviewers going to quit being so damned charmed by retro games? If it is a fine retro game it deserves a mediocre review, not high praise. And they certainly shouldn't cost more than $1.99 .
  25. ForsetiX
    Apr 28, 2015
    10
    Fantastic homage to old school video games!!! The great gameplay makes you forget about the graphics, that some may complain about, and immerse you heavily into the game. Play this game **** cause it's only like $10.
  26. AF1
    Sep 3, 2016
    0
    A game that pisses one of time after time with unfair and idiotic situations only to lose all your gems you have collected . What an electronic **** !
  27. Tornado130
    Jun 9, 2015
    0
    VEry very bad this disappointed me in many ways ,being 2d and have bad graphics. Constant crashes of the game on the ps4 version stopped me enjoying it ,however, i dont know anyone else whos game crashed.
  28. JRG
    Aug 10, 2015
    9
    There is a 150 character lomit for reviews? Okay dude. Gonna see if my score can influence the user score. Great game, lots of enemies and worlds and cool places. Great if you wat a colorful platformer with character.
  29. Minge
    Apr 16, 2016
    10
    Fantastic game remembering the old classic games from it really REALLY good side scrolling adventure hope more developers go back and make some old school games 10/10
  30. Jakubris
    Jun 9, 2015
    10
    If your childhood entailed blowing on cartridges and changing the tv to channel 3 then Shovel Knight is a must play for you! The graphics bring us back to a time when things were simpler, the classic 8-bit style combined with smooth game-play make for a stunning match. To top it all off the sound design and music in this game are top notch. All these pieces come together in one thrillingIf your childhood entailed blowing on cartridges and changing the tv to channel 3 then Shovel Knight is a must play for you! The graphics bring us back to a time when things were simpler, the classic 8-bit style combined with smooth game-play make for a stunning match. To top it all off the sound design and music in this game are top notch. All these pieces come together in one thrilling experience that present challenges and hours of entertainment to keep you locked in and remembering how things used to be! But we're not sad that they've changed!… Expand
  31. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    5
    One thing I like to do when it comes to writing these reviews is to sit back and think about the game for a little while. I actually wrote a review earlier about Shovel Knight but I chose not to post it because it was more of a rant than an actual review of the game. The reason for this is because if I had to pick a word to describe this game, I would have to say frustrating.

    I am not    One thing I like to do when it comes to writing these reviews is to sit back and think about the game for a little while. I actually wrote a review earlier about Shovel Knight but I chose not to post it because it was more of a rant than an actual review of the game. The reason for this is because if I had to pick a word to describe this game, I would have to say frustrating.

    I am not saying this is a bad game but it’s not the game that I hoped it would be. I am very picky when it comes to 2D platformers, I’m not a huge Mario or Mega Man fan. The series I always preferred growing up is the Donkey Kong Country series. The physics engine in Donkey Kong Country is different than any other 2D platformer so I often times have a hard time adjusting to new platformers.

    The developers of Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games deserve a lot of praise for this game. If you’re a fan of the Mega Man series then you will love this game. For me, those games are very punishing and hard for me to enjoy. When I would finally sit down and play this game, I could only play for an hour at a time because I would find myself getting frustrated. The problem with getting frustrated in a game like is as you get more frustrated and you end up taking more risk which causes you to die more. Then the frustration levels will continuously get higher. So if you’re like me where you find yourself getting frustrated rather easily this is may not be the game for you.

    Some of you may be wondering what was the cause of this frustration. For me, one of the biggest problems I have with platformers is I like to be constantly in motion so usually, I’m running as much as possible. So when I encounter an enemy, I like to hit it once and keep moving on. This game, you would often times have to hit an enemy multiple times before taking them down. So for me personally, I would have to stop running and then hit the enemy 5 times before they go down. I know it may not sound like a big issue but it’s taking away my favorite part of platformers.

    The other major issue is if you want to keep momentum, you need to know and memorize each map or stage. The only way to do that is by playing through the stage several times and kind of learning the ins and outs of each stage.So I often times don’t enjoy a Platformer the first time I play it. I know that may sound odd but I guess that is something I need to work on. Go in with a different mindset, instead of saying “I’m going to play this game, maybe say I’m going to learn this map”. Maybe that way, I won’t get as frustrated when I die a lot.

    I do want to mention that I did get a chance to go back and replay a stage. There was an unfortunate incident with my PlayStation where out of the blue it just crashed.It kind of sucked because I had just completed a stage and then all of a sudden, the system just shut off. This was not a gameplay issue where the game crashed this was a weird incident where my PlayStation just shut off. So when I finally replayed the level, I will admit it was much easier playing through the level again but I can’t say that it was any more enjoyable for me.

    My favorite part of the entire game was the boss battles, I just had a lot of fun fighting the bosses and devising a strategy to defeat each individual boss. I found myself wanting to get through the platforming aspect of the game to get to the “fun” part for me which were the boss battles. All the bosses were unique and required a different strategy to take them out.

    I know, I haven’t done a great explaining why I didn’t like this game and I can honestly say that I don’t know why I didn’t like it. It’s just one of those games where all the signs point to the fact that you should like this game. Its a genre you like, its well made, it reviews well but for one reason or another you just don’t like it. I think we’ve all been there when it comes to a video game.

    All in all, the game feels like it was designed for fans of the Mega Man series.Which is exactly how the game was marketed and I think that’s great because fans of that series deserve another good Mega Man game. I decided that I’m not going to rate this game because I don’t think its fair to give it a rating. I think it’s a great game that I just didn’t like.    … Expand
  32. Red-Eyes
    Oct 7, 2020
    10
    Absolutely **** perfect! I cannot believe a game from this generation could go straight into my Top5 side-scrolling games as fast as this one did.
    The gameplay is perfect balancing platforming and combat as one entity like bouncing on enemies to reach higher places. Each level has its own little twist in the gameplay to makes things fresh everytime: from the exploding estructure at the    Absolutely **** perfect! I cannot believe a game from this generation could go straight into my Top5 side-scrolling games as fast as this one did.
    The gameplay is perfect balancing platforming and combat as one entity like bouncing on enemies to reach higher places. Each level has its own little twist in the gameplay to makes things fresh everytime: from the exploding estructure at the Explodatorium to the bouncing jellies (yes, bouncing jellies) at the Lost City; every level is unique and you never get bored.
    The bosses are amazing and each of them has its own different m.o. to fight. And considering the game signature charm and style, chances are you'll remember those battle for a long time.
    The icing on the cake is the perfect soundtrack. it is the best soundtrack I've ever heard in a 2D game! Remember how we used to play super nes games humming the music while going right? That's how I replay this game.
    All in all this is one of my favorite games of the newer generations, if you grew up with Mario, Donkey Kong, Megaman and stuff and like a good challenge I'm pretty sure you'll find enjoyment here    … Expand
  33. MediaFreak
    Apr 25, 2017
    8
    Mostly a great game with a lot of throw back to classic nes platformers. However there's a fine line between challenging game play and trolling, and unfortunately shovel knight crosses it a few too many times, especially the later plague knight levels. Also I think the level designers seem to think the controls are better than they are, and opted for a 2 button system. This often becomesMostly a great game with a lot of throw back to classic nes platformers. However there's a fine line between challenging game play and trolling, and unfortunately shovel knight crosses it a few too many times, especially the later plague knight levels. Also I think the level designers seem to think the controls are better than they are, and opted for a 2 button system. This often becomes problematic when your mid jump and all of a sudden you character uses their special power because yor thumb leaned on down ever so slightly. A frustrating design which could easily have been resolved by mapping it a different button. Not an issue in the shovel knight campaign as you can just unequip your magic, but for some reason they dont give you the option in the plague knight campaign

    Great at times but flawed.

    Spectre knight - 7/10 - great story, fun but not challenging in the slightest
    Shovel knight - 9/10 - perfect balance of fun and challenging. Could have used 1-2 more.levels
    Plague knight - 7.5/10 - Some really tricky challenges, but dull story and let down by the controls    … Expand
  34. actionist83
    Jan 4, 2018
    10
    As someone who grew up playing NES/SNES/Genesis games, I was blown away by Shovel Knight! Not only is this game authentically retro, but the world and gameplay is incredible! This is the greatest side scrolling platformer that I ever got my paws on. Dig in!
  35. looom
    Apr 20, 2016
    9
    Stellar game! If you are out of 80s and you love old platform games like mario, robocop 2,megaman then its a must have. Beautiful pixelart, nice story lot of loots to find our:) Its huge step back to 80s/90 however its great:)
  36. Diesel_Fox
    Dec 11, 2015
    10
    This is one of the few retro style games to completely encompass the 8-bit era, from controls, style to music, and does them all seamlessly while adding some modern gameplay components that make it surpass games from that era. Some of the post NES gamers might, not appreciate it, but I consider it to be pretty much a masterpiece for what it set out to accomplish, and highly recommend it!
  37. blopho
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    This game is an awesome platformer in the style of 8/16bit consoles. This game is one of the few for Ps4 that deserves all the praise it gets. I'd say this and Rayman Legends are the best traditional platform games on Ps4 by far.
  38. Paulo-Lameiras
    Sep 1, 2016
    10
    One of the best 2D platformers i have ever played, which includes games from 8bit, 16bit, etc generations
    Beautiful pixelart visual direction, good soundtrack, addicting gameplay, diverse environments, lots of powerups and very challenging.
    Fantastic game!
  39. t0mmyg
    Mar 16, 2017
    8
    A fun filled romp down memory lane. Shovel Knight takes everything great about the NES era and makes it fresh again. The music was great, classic chiptune. The gameplay was tight and the difficulty felt just right. The sprites are colourful and imaginative. A great time for anyone interested in classic platforming games, with an RPG flair to spice things up.
  40. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    9
    As a person who doesn't generally play these type of games I was skeptical but was I wrong. This is one of the best puzzle platforms I've ever played. An extremely challenging game as well. What a blast.
  41. consolfreak1982
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    So much has already been said about this gem of a game -
    whar I want to mention is that the boxed Version is not only including the Soundtrack as a download, it contains a colored handbook (!!!!) with artworks, hints and so on - how awesome is that? :D
    Theres not a single, NOT A SINGLE Thing about this game that is not STELLAR. Its so well made and so full of love for the Detail that    So much has already been said about this gem of a game -
    whar I want to mention is that the boxed Version is not only including the Soundtrack as a download, it contains a colored handbook (!!!!) with artworks, hints and so on - how awesome is that? :D

    Theres not a single, NOT A SINGLE Thing about this game that is not STELLAR.
    Its so well made and so full of love for the Detail that its already considered an instant classic - even in years to come.
    Graphics, Sound, Gameplay, Controls - theres not a single part of the game thats not flawless and crafted with care to the finest.
    oh - and theres quite some DLC comin up still - one campaign was already released for free, and two more will come too - for free as well.. how can you make an outstanding game even better?
    On any System - this is a MUST BUY    … Expand
  42. KrisTrajkovski
    Nov 17, 2015
    10
    This game pretty much brings back the 2-D platforming genre to the mainstream. I don't know why people are hating on this game because of its 8bit or 16bit graphics and the fact that this game should belong to the 90s but it was the cornerstone of the video game industry and we should be proud about it
  43. Cosmozerk
    May 22, 2016
    10
    Shovel Knight is a 2D platformer made by Yacht club games. Since its release it's been getting perfect scores all across the board with 9 and 10 all over the place. Now personally i also think this is a great game..., but it does have some little but noticeable flaws.

    STORY: You are this knight called Shovel Knight and you have this partner called Shield Knight. Shield Knight gets    Shovel Knight is a 2D platformer made by Yacht club games. Since its release it's been getting perfect scores all across the board with 9 and 10 all over the place. Now personally i also think this is a great game..., but it does have some little but noticeable flaws.

    STORY: You are this knight called Shovel Knight and you have this partner called Shield Knight. Shield Knight gets captured, Shovel Knight retires, the forces of evil appear again, Shovel Knight must go save the day, etc ect ect. In a platforming game the plot is the least important factor for me and Shovel Knight is no different. There's actually a really obvious plot twist, but i'm not gonna spoil it, but if you don't see that twist coming the first time you see the intro...then you are blind as all ****.

    PRESENTATION: Yachtclubgames wanted to do a throwback to the original NES days.

    Every level is colorful and charming with detail all over the place!. I'm one of those guys who doesn't thinks that this game uses the original NES colorpalette because...well...just look at it!. Even Megaman 6, Super Mario Bros 3 or Punch Out, wich are some of the better looking games on the NES, had this many details and colors at the same time. The enemy design is also very creative and the animation of the incredibly beautiful sprites is fluid. And the music is also phenomenal, it has that 8-bit style and just like other NES titles the melody is very strong, making it very catchy. They even got the Megaman composer to do some songs...that alone is a testament to the greatness of the music. The game runs at full 1080p and 60fps and it makes everything look so...clear.

    GAMEPLAY: Like i said, Shovel Knight is an 8-bit 2D platforming game. The game has different levels with a boss to reach at the end, usually being the nights of the order of no quarter.

    The levels have amazing level design with many secrets to be found and some of them can only be reached if you have a specific equipment, where do you buy this equipment?...in the towns!. The towns are little places which are just a means to buy new armor with different effects, extend your life bar or extend your magic meter.

    To enter the town or levels, we have an overworld that is clearly based on Super Mario Bros 3 overworld. You can also find mini-bosses in here, but i'll go back to that later.

    Anyway let's go back to the levels for a bit. One of my complaints i see some reviewers point out with the game is that the levels are too freaking long. Some of the stages have 6 checkpoints!, and you might say: "Well that seems totally fair", well yeah, but the bad part of making a long level is that it tends to drag out and become less fun because of it. I totally understand this point, but as someone that has played the Yoshi's Island games...i don't really think that longer levels is a flaw, but i just wanted to pointed out in case you are not the kind of person that tolerates long levels.

    However! one complain i agree with is that everytime you die you loose a whole lot of gems, but you do have the opportunity to get it back. The problem is that most of the time the jems get in places completely unreachable and while you can use the fishing rod for those situations, the other 80% of the time you can't get the gems back no matter what.

    The bosses are very easy to defeat, even if you don't have the locket (which is an equipment that makes you invincible for a short period of time) you can just bounce on their heads until they die. Some of them do have moves that negate that strategy, you just wait a bit and then go back to bounce on their head. On the overworld you find some mini-bosses, some hard, some easy, it depends.

    This is more a recommendation than a complain. Through levels you find some secret passages, some of them unlock special equipment, but most of them just give you more jewels. The problem is that jewels are ALL OVER THE PLACE, so tell me: why would you go into a different, harder, pathway, when the reward you get i just the same stuff that you get by normally playing the level?. I would've preferred if the secret rooms give you a special jewel that you can give to an NPC in some side-quest and then they give you something cool. Something like that would give you more incentive to go out and find those rooms.

    Each version of the game also has some bonus thing to it. The PS4 and Xbox ONE versions have extra boss battles with Kratos and the Battletoads respectively. And if you defeat them they will give you special weapons. The Wii U version on the other hand gets a sweet Shovel Knight amiibo, extra challenges and a co-op mode.

    Overall Shovel Knight is not a perfect game like many say, but it's still a stupidly strong game with great graphics, music, level design and mechanics. A great indie-game and i can't wait what Yacht club games is gonna make next!.

    I'll give it a 10/10.

    Oh! and did i mention that it also has...FREE DLC!, which i'll review later.    … Expand
  44. jsands7
    Dec 24, 2015
    8
    Shovel Knight is a solid little game and I'm glad I took the time to play it. As a bit of an oldschool gamer who grew up playing NES and SNES and loved the Mega Man games, a lot of things in Shovel Knight appealed to me. I recommend it, but after all of the crazy hype I'd heard perhaps my expectations were a bit TOO high and it didn't blow me away. I played Rogue Legacy shortly after and IShovel Knight is a solid little game and I'm glad I took the time to play it. As a bit of an oldschool gamer who grew up playing NES and SNES and loved the Mega Man games, a lot of things in Shovel Knight appealed to me. I recommend it, but after all of the crazy hype I'd heard perhaps my expectations were a bit TOO high and it didn't blow me away. I played Rogue Legacy shortly after and I prefer that title, if I had to choose between the two.… Expand
  45. SuperKing
    Nov 22, 2020
    9
    One of the best retro inspired games out there. Great music, controls and characters. If you like the old school megaman games you'll love this one. If you grew up with NES this game will take you back to the good old days. Worth a full price buy.
  46. marykaymylove
    Jun 19, 2017
    10
    Shovel knight captures the essence of a side scrolling NES style game. This game is a gold mine. This is obviously the spiritual successor of megaman.
  47. Madbeast8
    Aug 23, 2016
    9
    With crisp, tight controls and a bevy of upgrades and secrets to find, this game perfectly grasps the nostalgia it reached to obtain. The story line, while simple, is comical and entertaining and yet still provides a solid framework for this fantasy world in a clever and unique way (if the title alone does not tease this element). As a long-time gamer (my first system was theWith crisp, tight controls and a bevy of upgrades and secrets to find, this game perfectly grasps the nostalgia it reached to obtain. The story line, while simple, is comical and entertaining and yet still provides a solid framework for this fantasy world in a clever and unique way (if the title alone does not tease this element). As a long-time gamer (my first system was the Intellivision), 2D side-scrolling platformers are a large part of my gaming base, and this excellent jaunt down memory lane satisfies that itch from yesteryear while also breathing new life into a genre with strong roots! If you enjoy 2D side-scrolling platformers, this game is a MUST PLAY!… Expand
  48. FromKanga
    Jan 29, 2017
    10
    This is my favourite 2D platformer of all time, I loved every second of this game

    The story and characters are really simple but there is a retro charm to it, like the good old days, just defeat the villain who wants to take over the world (with a few twists). What makes this game incredible is the level design, each level is dynamic and enjoyable, there isn't a single level or moment    This is my favourite 2D platformer of all time, I loved every second of this game

    The story and characters are really simple but there is a retro charm to it, like the good old days, just defeat the villain who wants to take over the world (with a few twists).
    What makes this game incredible is the level design, each level is dynamic and enjoyable, there isn't a single level or moment that feels dull in the game.

    In conclusion, It's one of my favourite games of all time and I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  49. RuffKnight
    Feb 28, 2017
    9
    If you ever played Super Mario 3 for NES, you will love this game. Only thing that's missing (on current PS4 version) is some sort of co-op or PvP aspect to this game. Although that is scheduled for the future. Also the music will make you go insane.
  50. bellonman
    Apr 30, 2017
    9
    Shovel Knight takes all the good aspects of other games in the same genre and combines them all into this game. Really great gameplay and tight controls make this game fun and difficult at the same time. It also helps that this game has a killer soundtrack.
  51. Dragonfly44
    Apr 1, 2020
    6
    It looks absolutely fantastic, unfortunately it just isn't very fun to play. 67/100
  52. RaFfr0
    Sep 2, 2017
    8
    Shovel Knight is a great game, maybe one of the best i've played in its genre: It has a nice story and pretty solid gameplay, if you want a game to have a fun time this is definitely worth a look.
  53. Randomguy67
    Apr 28, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has a butt code so it is one of the best games of all time.

    Ok, jokes aside this game is amazing. The game play takes big influnce from the best games of the 80's and 90's, the rocking soundtrack by Jake Kaufman, the mixture of school nostalga and new mechanics make one of the best indie games ever.

    And if you want the butt code, it's:WSWWAEAW    … Expand
  54. captaint
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    Cute background setting, humorous characters with hardcore level design, accompanied with authentic 8bit style music. 12 hours to complete the basic game but will definitely remember this amazing journey for a long while. Thanks so much dev for making this.
  55. Ruzaky
    Aug 26, 2020
    9
    Great music, gorgeous pixel art, gameplay is blast from the past.If you want platinum in this its also very challenging.
  56. Fry_Bot
    May 24, 2020
    9
    This game is amazing, the only reason it's not a 10 is cause the level Stranded Ship is extremely annoying, not that difficult, but very annoying. This games difficulty is perfect, other than Stranded Ship it is perfectly fair but still pretty hard. If you like Mega Man you will love this game. Also, Stranded Ship may suck, but levels like The Lich Yard, Explodatorium and Clockwork TowerThis game is amazing, the only reason it's not a 10 is cause the level Stranded Ship is extremely annoying, not that difficult, but very annoying. This games difficulty is perfect, other than Stranded Ship it is perfectly fair but still pretty hard. If you like Mega Man you will love this game. Also, Stranded Ship may suck, but levels like The Lich Yard, Explodatorium and Clockwork Tower completely outshine the trash that is Stranded Ship.… Expand
  57. Dr_Unk
    Oct 6, 2020
    10
    What a great game! Brings back memories of playing some of the classic NES games,
  58. Gontrand00
    Dec 23, 2020
    9
    This is an excellent retro platform game. Great level design, controls, music is catchy, bosses are originals and the mechanics are quite nice to use. I wish there would be more levels outside of the castles, like the first level.

    The only flaw of the game for me is the f*cking recoil when you character gets hit. This was a gimmic used in the 80's but that cannot happen anymore in any    This is an excellent retro platform game. Great level design, controls, music is catchy, bosses are originals and the mechanics are quite nice to use. I wish there would be more levels outside of the castles, like the first level.

    The only flaw of the game for me is the f*cking recoil when you character gets hit. This was a gimmic used in the 80's but that cannot happen anymore in any platform game. I think it's a cheap way to add challenge and it's infuriating and unfair. If you get hit by an enemy, you normally receive 1/2 heart damage. But if this happens on a small platform (it will happen often), the recoil just push you in the pit and you die. Without a chance of recovering or anything. So then you lose your money in a pretty much unreachable place, and you can go get **** lol. So if this was patch, I would say the game is perfect. And the sad thing is that they kept that recoil for every **** games.

    Programmers, stop putting recoil in your 2D games, it's a stupid idea and it's a fake and unfair challenge. ;-)    … Expand
  59. B00tador
    Dec 5, 2021
    9
    The original and greatest of the Shovel Knight games. More than a homage to the games of yesterday, this is better than these game - it's incredible.
  60. Ginger_Avenger
    Nov 19, 2022
    7
    I like this game. It succeeds at being an 8-bit tribute yet also does its own thing. There's some 8-bit platforms frustration to be had, and perhaps the game design of old need not be so faithfully reproduced, but overall I liked the experience. Music is also great.
  61. leofravoline
    May 15, 2022
    0
    Outro daqueles jogos que insistem em colocar o assustador peixe demônio como um inimigo. Na vida real eu acho ele assustador o bastante, e não tenho vontade nenhuma de ver ele num jogo. Não. Parece interessante mas é injogável por eu ter fobia desse peixe.
  62. HuevoAlce
    Jun 27, 2022
    9
    Shovel Knight properly uses classic game mechanics without making it feel antiquated.
  63. quittit1
    Jul 5, 2022
    4
    I got it but I don’t think so it doesn’t work lol lol but yeah that’s okay buddy but yeah that’s
  64. Raziel72
    Aug 7, 2022
    8
    Хороший платформер! Интересные боссы и крутые уровни к этим боссам! Игра запомнится надолго

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PS4 Game of 2015
54
#54 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
60
#60 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Impulsegamer
    Sep 25, 2015
    84
    Shovel Knight perfectly encapsulates what is so great about playing modern-retro games inspired by the 8-bit era of the 1980s and early 90’s without being derivative or trapped in the past.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 30, 2015
    90
    A glorious, funny, occasionally touching and often maddening tribute to the 8-bit platformer. [July 2015, p.87]
  3. Play UK
    Jun 27, 2015
    90
    A well-written love letter to the classic games of the Eighties that blends a variety of classic platformers into a game that works regardless of any nostalgia. We dig it. [Issue#258, p.72]
See all critic reviews »