Shovel Knight: King of Cards

 Switch
Shovel Knight: King of Cards Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

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  • Summary: Play as King Knight, the gilded goon himself, as he travels through 4 new worlds and more than 30 all new courses, on a journey to best the Three Kings who rule over the land. With a high flying spin and a boisterous bash, he can crash through all who would dare stand in his way.

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Shovel Knight Prescription For Sleep - "Of Devious Machinations" Teaser

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 1, 2020
    100
    All told, this is the biggest, most well-crafted, funniest and, in some ways, most emotionally potent game from Yacht Club yet. [Issue #45 – March/April 2020, p. 20]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Dec 9, 2019
    95
    Like its brethren before it, Shovel Knight: King of Cards features some of the best platforming game design ever seen in a video game.
  3. Shacknews
    Dec 19, 2019
    90
    It's also a strong way to put the Shovel Knight saga to bed, essentially bringing everything full-circle in such a way that it encourages players to go right back to the original Shovel Knight story. King of Cards is aces, in ways I never expected it to be.
  4. COGconnected
    Dec 16, 2019
    89
    Shovel Knight: King of Cards is the proverbial cherry on top of a massive sundae that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly, and I know I’ll look forward to revisiting it in its entirety in the future as well.
  5. PLAY! Zine
    Jan 27, 2020
    85
    King of Cards delivers a great epilogue for an even greater Shovel Knight saga. It is cleverly designed, has that old school vibe we all love, and a really cool move set for our new hero. Joustus, the card game is a great addition, but since it is pretty much a mandatory element, it may throw the entire tempo of the game down to the danger zone.
  6. Edge Magazine
    Jan 31, 2020
    80
    It's wonderfully refined, boasting a glut of ideas without ever feeling overstuffed. [Issue#342, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 11, 2019
    60
    A disappointing way to end an otherwise epic series (especially if you take into account Showdown) but the retro visuals and excellent 2D platforming can still delight.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. Moah
    Mar 28, 2020
    10
    Shovel knight Treasure Trove is a fantastic saga o of games, with each feeling different from the last. That hasn't changed in the lastShovel knight Treasure Trove is a fantastic saga o of games, with each feeling different from the last. That hasn't changed in the last campaign, King Of Cards. Although King Knight's movemment may seem limiting, it quicly becomes empowering with you gliding across the screen, almost in a trance and snap to once finishing a level and thinking about how fantastic it was. The graphis are nothing to sneeze at, with it feeling like a modern NES game. Overall, King Of Cards is a great way to end this amazing game, and I can't wait for Yacht Club's upcoming releases.… Expand
  2. MaximMillennia
    May 27, 2020
    10
    Grew to one of my favourite games. Just goat material. Wonderful characters, soundtrack, level design and humour. The game itself has someGrew to one of my favourite games. Just goat material. Wonderful characters, soundtrack, level design and humour. The game itself has some depth and many reasons to play it again. Moving ending. 10 out of 10 crowns!… Expand
  4. Scoville
    Dec 10, 2019
    10
    It’s more shovel knight. If you liked the other campaigns you will also like this one. It changes the formula enough to keep thingsIt’s more shovel knight. If you liked the other campaigns you will also like this one. It changes the formula enough to keep things interesting. The card game in it is also surprisingly fun.… Expand
  5. Setzer_G
    Dec 15, 2019
    9
    King of Cards is yet another solid expansion to the Shovel Knight collection following the character King Knight shortly before the events ofKing of Cards is yet another solid expansion to the Shovel Knight collection following the character King Knight shortly before the events of the original Shovel Knight storyline. Overall, the game is a very positive experience and lives up to the quality standards set by the series.
    The gameplay, like every other expansion, is fresh and unique from the base game. I found myself really enjoying King Knight's movement and attacks, which once I mastered them were some of the more satisfying movement mechanics I've experienced in a platform. King Knight uses a shoulder bash/charge as a primary attack, which can be canceled into a damaging roll or combo into a destructive spinning leap upon impact to most surfaces and enemies. The movement is fluid and surprisingly deep from the three base moves, aided by various new weapons and armor sets that can be found along the way. The gameplay alone is a ten out of ten.
    It's also worth noting that King of Cards features a card game called Joustus in the story mode, which is a decent enough little addition to the game. I myself don't really care for card games within video games, however once you unlock higher level cards and understand the surprisingly deep mechanics of Joustus it's alright. And if you happen to hate it, it's actually not required to play it in order to complete the story.
    Speaking of story, this one fails to live up to the story told in the previous campaign, Specter of Torment in my opinion. However, that by no means makes it a bad story, and I found myself really getting into the more silly and lighthearted tone of this one. If anything, the characterization of King Knight and the side characters alone was plenty enjoyable to me.
    Closing:
    Gameplay, story, art, music, and characters were great. My only nitpicks is that the new card game definitely leans on RNG at times, there wasn't much new music, and levels were very short. However, there were exponentially more levels than previous entries. Overall, this one is absolutely worth buying.    … Expand
  6. voiceofreason69
    Jul 22, 2023
    8
    king of cards is a tiny step down from specter of torment, it has great but not excellent controls, it has same graphics, same-slightly betterking of cards is a tiny step down from specter of torment, it has great but not excellent controls, it has same graphics, same-slightly better bosses, and unlike the last three pro-tags in shovel knight, I feel no particular incline to cheer for the despised king knight, as he has the same mannerisms of a spoiled brat. still solid game though, as always, with yacht club games. 8/10 would recommend… Expand
  7. pundy14
    May 26, 2022
    7
    Has all the great charm of the first three games, but maybe it was shovel knight fatigue, just didn’t get the same buz. Card game mechanicHas all the great charm of the first three games, but maybe it was shovel knight fatigue, just didn’t get the same buz. Card game mechanic wasn’t explained as well as it could have been too. OK game.… Expand
  8. Lordfate
    Apr 2, 2020
    0
    Decidedly not-fun, major step down from every previous entry. Years of waiting for this?

See all 14 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best Switch Game of 2019

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