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. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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.
  16. 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
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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!
  25. 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:)
  26. 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!
  27. 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.
  28. 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!
  29. 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.
  30. 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.
prev
Page:

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 »