Shovel Knight Dig

I’ve really enjoyed my time with Shovel Knight Dig, and it’s a fantastic follow-up to the first Shovel Knight adventure. Everything comes together so well here, and it feels so great to play, that you’ll have a tough time putting this one down. Ideally we’ll see the game support more platforms down the road, but for now if you’ve got access to a PC, Switch, or iOS platform, then I’d highly suggest checking it out.

It's safe to recommend Shovel Knight Dig to all 2D action-adventure fans. The dialed-up art and bottomless pit of treasures are a perfect metaphor for Shovel Knight's "indie upstart to enduring superstar" career path. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 19]

Shovel Knight Dig is an outstanding roguelite. It has everything we could expect from it: fun gameplay, very good visuals and soundtrack and a sense of humor that is very characteristic of the series. If you want to discover the origins of one of the icons of the indie videogame industry, this game is a must in your collection.

This feels like a different flavor of Shovel Knight, but thankfully it never feels off-brand. Dig is not a sequel, but even calling it a spin-off doesn’t feel totally right. This is just the 2D side-scrolling adventures of Shovel Knight’s origins displayed through a different vertical lens with a dash of arcade roguelike design tossed in. Through it all, the bountiful creativity that Yacht Club has made their staple is everywhere throughout the experience.

Shovel Knight Dig is another triumphant and enjoyable entry in the popular indie knight’s growing legacy, offering up thrilling, challenging gameplay that will appeal to fans both old and new. Though it may be a little on the short side, every minute of Shovel Knight Dig positively oozes quality, whether that be the snappy action-platforming or the fresh 16-bit art style and animation. We’d give this one a high recommendation to anyone who enjoyed the original platformers or to anyone looking for a tough (but not offputtingly tough) new roguelite. Shovel Knight Dig has got it where it counts and can stand tall beside its noble predecessors.

Shovel Knight Dig is a worthy entry to a solid game series; fans of platforming should jump down the well with this one.

Although for our money it’s not as engrossing or as immediately entertaining as Shovel Knight’s usual adventures this is still a well put together title that has very few faults when viewed purely as a roguelite.

There is a lot to enjoy with the new challenges brought on by Shovel Knight Dig. Gameplay is fast paced, the music is just as catchy as its predecessor, and the quirky dialogue between the NPCs brings back the nostalgia from the original. Although the environments are repetitive, losing a run never feels like a typical game over; it is just a quick regroup and back into adventure. The only major drawback of Shovel Knight Dig is that it is relatively short. Unless trying to get the perfect run, it ends just as quickly as it begins. Still, Yacht Club Games has managed to make a fun new genre and chapter for its fans and new players alike.

With a beautiful pixel-art presentation, Shovel Knight Dig reinterprets the moveset of the blue knight with a bigger focus on vertical traversal, as well as an entirely new rogue-like structure that is as enjoyable as it is challenging.

This is not the usual Shovel Knight you'd expect. Yacht Club Games and Nitrome managed to throw the popular hero in an unusual situation that will entertain and challenge new players but also seasoned ones.

Shovel Knight Dig may not be as fine-tuned as the original but it's still a ton of fun to dig deeper and deeper in its roguelike campaign. I definitely recommend it but try not to be disappointed if the fun is over within only a few hours like it was for me.

Despite the insidious roguelike trappings, this is a Shovel Knight title to its core. Dig is a nasty slog with no shortcuts to slump against. Spend your money as you might, only your skills can get you further. Like the original games, you can only throw yourself into the meat grinder until your muscle memory spits you out the other side. Although it looks and sounds great, I found myself tangled in the roguelike mechanics. If you’re incompatible with that genre, you might have to pass on this one. But Shovel Knight Dig hides a pretty decent game under all those frustrating outer layers.