Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

 Switch
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Dec 14, 2021
    95
    Pocket Dungeon grabbed me immediately and hasn’t let go. Everything in this puzzle game works; the aesthetic, controls, modes, bosses, replayability. A puzzle game that has this level of polish will stand the test of time with the likes of Tetris.
  2. Switch Player
    Jan 3, 2022
    90
    Overall, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is one of the best puzzle and rogue-lites I’ve had the pleasure of playing. Though it’s not without a few faults, this is a must-play for any Shovel Knight fan.
  3. Nintendo Life
    Dec 13, 2021
    90
    Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a smartly designed and truly delightful revitalization of the falling block puzzle genre. High intensity, combat-driven gameplay, oodles of replayability, a cute art style, and a surprising amount of depth make this one a ridiculously easy recommendation. If you’re at all a fan of Shovel Knight or falling block puzzlers, you owe it to yourself to give this a shot; even if you don’t fall neatly into either of those camps, we’d still very much suggest you give this one a look.
  5. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 12, 2021
    90
    I came into Pocket Dungeon with high hopes. I am one of the few people who adores Wario’s Woods. What I found in the final package was something bigger and bolder than I anticipated. You might be able to draw a dotted line back to the retro puzzler, but at the end of the day, Yacht Club and Vine just went and took the idea and ethos of Shovel Knight and paired it with the puzzle style that would make for the deepest experience. This isn’t a square peg fitting into a round hole like some puzzle game spin-offs. Instead, Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon just feels like an extension of the original game. Much like the inspiration, it’s challenging, but it’s also forgiving enough to not dissuade frustrated players. I didn’t think I’d see the day when someone did Wario’s Woods as a conceptual idea justice, but dang, they did it. Pocket Dungeon is incredible.
  6. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 16, 2021
    80
    Shovel Knight’s first spin-off is just as good as his mainline games, with a clever take on tile-matching puzzlers that offers an enjoyably unique challenge.
  7. GameSpot
    Dec 14, 2021
    80
    Years ago, Yacht Club introduced Shovel Knight to the world with a retro game that just feels right, thanks to pixel-perfect platforming that recalls the best of the NES days. With Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon, it applies that same level of polish to an entirely new genre and mechanics, and then uses the twist of rogue-lite elements to give it a completely new spin. It's inviting enough to feel immediately familiar, while mechanically complex enough to keep you coming back for one more run, and then another, and maybe just one more.
  8. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Mar 7, 2022
    75
    If you dare to step inside the Pocket Dungeon, I'd recommend an extreme degree of caution and being prepared to dial the difficulty down right away. [Issue #57 – January/February 2022, p. 22]
    All this publication's reviews
  9. Meristation
    Jan 13, 2022
    75
    Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon is a good puzzle game, above all. With a simple gameplay based on chaining elements of the scenario, each movement makes the board react accordingly, balancing the action with the turns in a sublime way. It surprises for how easy it is to understand its mechanics, how accessible and how addictive its formula is; but it doesn't justify its roguelite elements because of the little importance of each run's findings. A very good gateway to the genre for those who enjoy this kind of proposals, with a moderate challenge that requires a few hours to get out of this pocket dungeon. Once again, Shovel Knight shows that it has potential in genres other than classic platforming. More than recommended.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. 3DJuegos
    Jan 14, 2022
    Pocket Dungeon offers action and strategy in a game that is simply amazing. [Recommended]
  2. Eurogamer
    Jan 13, 2022
    A microsurgical blending of genres results in a lovely balance of precision and chaos. [Eurogamer Recommended]

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Switch Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Tspeed
    Jan 23, 2022
    7
    Not bad, but I’ve got other similar games I prefer playing. That might be because personally the roguelike approach doesn’t really appeal toNot bad, but I’ve got other similar games I prefer playing. That might be because personally the roguelike approach doesn’t really appeal to me and I prefer making progress rather than keep starting again each time. When I started playing it reminded me of grindstone, which I then went back to and put in more time than I did with this game. Also for 2 player, I’d much rather play similar games included with NSO, like panel de pon, which is much more fun - and that’s not opinion, that’s scientific fact.… Full Review »
  2. FoxyChalet
    Jan 6, 2022
    10
    Alright let's establish something here. This is a puzzle game, a tile matching block dropping puzzle game like Tetris, Lumines, puyo puyo, DrAlright let's establish something here. This is a puzzle game, a tile matching block dropping puzzle game like Tetris, Lumines, puyo puyo, Dr Mario, Puzzle Bobble, or more specifically, Wario's Woods.

    This is really important to establish because most of the reviews, especially negative ones, seem to be from people who DON'T LIKE THIS GENRE. It keeps getting middling reviews around the internet for not being enough of a roguelike, or not being like original Shovel Knight.

    So let's review this game from the point of view of someone who actually loves the genre, huh?

    It's very good, not perfect, but I personally love it. I've already put many hours into it, and will put many more. The different character, weapon, and relic options add enough variety to keep me coming back to try new things.

    This may not have quite the staying power of Game Boy Tetris or Lumines, but you have to understand that it's absolutely revolutionary. This game NEEDED to happen, because nobody had innovated to fill a void that has existed for years in the block based puzzle world. Sure grindstone is a good game, but I've played it for hours, and there is no time pressure. Sushi Strikers is probably the best recent example, but that has the puyo puyo style cutscene storyline.

    But this? This an actual action puzzle rpg with storyline, and characters, and a hub world. This is for people who love puzzle games but want some depth and design over sheer addictive playtime. Though there's plenty of that as well...

    It's extremely customizable as well, you can change just about anything to play it how you like. This actually upsets a lot of people when some games do this becuae they want to be told how to play. It works though, and I think anyone of any skill level could enjoy this game to it's fullest extent.

    What is the game lacking then you might ask?

    Well it needs an endless mode. Not journey endlessly, which you can unlock by beating the game. It needs a dungeon that does not end, and gets harder and harder as you go. Hopefully the makers of the game read this. It needs an adjustable level to start at and then a point where it starts getting harder, like OG Tetris. Engineering this seems difficulte, but I think it would make the game a more complete package.

    The second thing is that the local multiplayer is lackluster. It should be more... I don't actually know. Like Mr Driller 2 on GBA with tons of fun powerups to disrupt your opponents, but simple gameplay. Just simple but goofy fun, with the skill base still there, so that everyone can enjoy it.

    Honestly apart from that, just adding more stuff, which they already plan to do with 3 DLC packs, is what is going to make this game even better.

    All in all, if you like puzzle games, you shoul dbuy this game. If you like rogulites, you should buy this game. If you like rogulites but don't like puzzle games, I would probably avoid it.

    I for one will be buying evry piece of DLC for this game as soon as it comes out because it is great. And I think the effects of the innovation of this game are going to rock the puzzle game world in unexpected ways going forward.    … Full Review »
  3. CoffeeNMelange
    Dec 14, 2021
    7
    Core gameplay is really fun IMO, pretty much what I thought it would be and was hoping for. I really enjoy the art style, diversity inCore gameplay is really fun IMO, pretty much what I thought it would be and was hoping for. I really enjoy the art style, diversity in characters, the music, and all the customization options (especially for VS mode, which is really awesome).

    I have a few gripes though.

    * Pretty sparse on unlockable items. I was able to unlock all the relics that Chester (the "home base" shop) sells after what feels like a small number of runs. After playing for maybe 4-5 hours since launch, it feels like gems don't mean anything. (I have all the areas unlocked for cannon; all costumes for the characters I currently have unlocked; all relics that can be bought, etc)

    * The relic selection is... Well, underwhelming. The vast majority of them just aren't great or even all that interesting, and the ones that are even vaguely interesting aren't really useful. I understand that this is a puzzle game with pretty unique gameplay, so I expect that relic design must have been kind of difficult. But IMO run diversity is a core of roguelike games, which is usually achieved via relics you pick up during the run, and Pocket Dungeon kinda falls flat in this regard. There really just isn't enough competition between the quality of relics for the user to ever consider not buying a Meal Ticket or the Rapier that gives First Strike damage.

    * No online for the absolutely excellent versus mode. I suppose that might be a lot to ask, but it would really be awesome.

    In summary: This is a fun game with a lot going for it. IMO it's a great puzzle game, but not a great roguelike. People who are hoping for a ton of unique items and strong run diversity are not going to find it here presently. That said, the core gameplay is solid and a really fresh take on the action puzzle genre.

    Is it worth your $20? I'd like to say it is—I really enjoy the game for what it is. That said, it's easy to see that there's a distinct lack of content that enables run diversity, a quality associated with titles that include "roguelike" in their description. Being that a lot of total bangers in the genre are around $20 and have heaps more content & run diversity, I can't help but be a little disappointed in this regard. Hoping for a DLC that gives some answer, here.

    Fun and unique for what it is. Core gameplay is great. Versus mode feels like the real star of the show in terms of replayability, but without online, that only gets a person so far.

    I'd give it a 7/10.    … Full Review »
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