Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

 Switch
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 527 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 423 out of 527
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 527
  3. Negative: 53 out of 527
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  1. jens76
    Aug 23, 2023
    8
    Auf und ab, Buddel für die wahre Liebe. Bring die Schaufel mit, mein Herz ist aus Gold. Treasure Trove müsst ihr um jeden Preis physisch erstehen.
  2. WarioLandFan
    Mar 28, 2023
    10
    Not only does this game have arguably the greatest 2D platformer of all time, but it includes 3 other unique campaigns starring different characters and level designs, and on top of that there's a fighting mode. All of that for forty dollars is a steal. Amazing game.
  3. JTsilver
    Mar 16, 2023
    10
    Shovel: eight
    Bomb: six
    Dead: ten
    Rich: nine
    Real real ong kinda heat fr fr
  4. TehWaffl
    Mar 15, 2023
    8
    The go to for anyone wanting a traditional 2D platformer. No need for powerups as each character has a simple move set with massive potential. Level design is fantastic, with secrets scattered all over. Characters have fun designs and great personalities. Certain level mechanics and relics can be annoying/unbalanced and King of Cards is overall lacking; but the game still comes out pretty good.
  5. tewatson715
    Feb 4, 2023
    10
    Shovel Knight is not just my favorite indie game of all time, but my favorite 2D platformer of all time. It's incredible how well Yacht Club Games have replicated the style of NES games while making something even better out of it. The game can be challenging the first time you play it, and the New Game + in particular is really tough, but the stages are just so much fun. The level designShovel Knight is not just my favorite indie game of all time, but my favorite 2D platformer of all time. It's incredible how well Yacht Club Games have replicated the style of NES games while making something even better out of it. The game can be challenging the first time you play it, and the New Game + in particular is really tough, but the stages are just so much fun. The level design in this game is some of the best I've ever seen in a game, with tight and fluid controls to go alongside it. Shovel Knight can use his shovel to bounce on enemies and gain height, and he has a healthy amount of subweapons that can be bought which includes a fire rod, a protective shield, claws that let you dig through dirt, and more. The shovel itself can be upgraded to dig up patches of dirt faster and send out a spark when you have full health, and if that wasn't enough, Shovel Knight himself can also score upgrades to his health and magic meter for continued use of subweapons. The stages are littered with gold that can be used to buy subweapons and various armor sets that all have unique perks. Taking a cue from Dark Souls, however, you lose some gold when you die and you have one shot to get it back in the spot you died in before it gets lost forever. Since there are no lives in Shovel Knight, this is a good way to keep the player engaged and on their toes despite no threat of a game over. The overworld of the game has a few minibosses and smaller platforming challenges with a higher payout of gold, which are a nice in-between activity while transitioning through stages. Each stage is slightly on the long side, but there are multiple creative gimmicks that keep the stages interesting, fresh, and very replayable. The only nitpick I have with this game is that you can't immediately return to the overworld when you're visiting the game's town, but that's it. I have nothing else to complain about, because this game is just that good. If you haven't played it by this point, I implore you to do so.… Expand
  6. Elquansa
    Feb 3, 2023
    9
    Definitely a highlight in the modern indie game scene. The full package with every story expansions adds so much, so many fresh stories and mechanics to each character. The team did a beautiful job translating a classic genre for new generations looking to dip their toes in the games many inspirations and and references.
  7. hileger
    Jan 19, 2023
    9
    одна из лучших платформеров игра буквально надрачивает тебе и ты становишься мочнее
  8. tiago1243
    Dec 22, 2022
    7
    llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
  9. Oddlennon
    Dec 14, 2022
    8
    Great fun!
    I played and completed all four game modes. Each was different enough to still keep it fun.
    Would definitely play again
  10. somedumbdude
    Nov 2, 2022
    9
    the game is amazing, I am only on shovel of hope right now but the gameplays fun and has some difficulty, And the music is amazing, And the amount of content is so big its obvious if you want to do a full playthrough you will be here for a while, I have been looking around for years for a game like shovel knight, its the game i never knew i wanted its like if you took some of ducktalesthe game is amazing, I am only on shovel of hope right now but the gameplays fun and has some difficulty, And the music is amazing, And the amount of content is so big its obvious if you want to do a full playthrough you will be here for a while, I have been looking around for years for a game like shovel knight, its the game i never knew i wanted its like if you took some of ducktales gameplay added megamans boss levels and mario 3's overworld you get this, an astonishing tribute to 8-bit platforming games… Expand
  11. Aaron_Deluxe
    Aug 26, 2022
    9
    And ode to the classic NES games. Top best soundtracks of all time and the characters are very charismatic
  12. Ceok17
    Aug 16, 2022
    9
    A must play!

    Really cool and challenging game, not too hard, not too easy.

    Amazing soundtrack and amazing pixelart, just take your shovel and enjoy killing enemies!
  13. Nintendist
    Jun 29, 2022
    0
    this game is not good. i really dislike all the content from here. the gameplay is so... lazy?
  14. stupidopinion
    Jun 22, 2022
    9
    All 4 games are lots of fun definitely worth the price. Plague Knight is probably the weakest of the 4 due to its unintuitive platforming, but I like its story the most and speed running is crazy. Shovel Knight is 3rd imo for just being an overall solid game in all aspects. Specter knight is 2nd and has the most fun platforming, but the story is weak and its lack of an overworld feels off.All 4 games are lots of fun definitely worth the price. Plague Knight is probably the weakest of the 4 due to its unintuitive platforming, but I like its story the most and speed running is crazy. Shovel Knight is 3rd imo for just being an overall solid game in all aspects. Specter knight is 2nd and has the most fun platforming, but the story is weak and its lack of an overworld feels off. King knight is best for its great platforming, a great story, great level structure, and of course the very fun card minigame.

    The game is about 40 hours, would definitely recommend!    … Expand
  15. pundy14
    May 26, 2022
    9
    Played the first three and they are brilliant. Actually brilliant. Can be difficult, but the checkpoint system makes the game feel fair, like you’re able to jump straight back into things. Brilliant games.
  16. Hepsiyupse
    Apr 9, 2022
    8
    It's really hard to judge the game as a single game. I'll just review the games separately:

    Shovel of Hope is good. The controls feel nice. The pixel graphics are awesome. There are some instant deaths, but you can avoid some using an item. The story is decent, with an interesting twist at the end. The level design is really thoughtful and well executed. Plague of Shadows is garbage.    It's really hard to judge the game as a single game. I'll just review the games separately:

    Shovel of Hope is good. The controls feel nice. The pixel graphics are awesome. There are some instant deaths, but you can avoid some using an item. The story is decent, with an interesting twist at the end. The level design is really thoughtful and well executed.

    Plague of Shadows is garbage. For a platformer, it's an extremely bold choice that Plague Knight can't pull off a decent jump. Even with the double jump, the height is ridiculous. You have to throw something at the peak of the double jump (with very difficult timing) to get the few extra pixels of height you need. The other option is the dash, which moves you way too fast and too far. It's very hard to control, you'll constantly touch enemies just to get knocked back ten meters, and die in a pit. Also, someone had the genius idea that you have to hold down the attack button for (what feels like) a minute to dash. This means that you can't attack while you charge the dash move, and you can waste a bomb because there's a limit on how many bombs you can throw at a time.
    The bombs also feel like trash. You constantly have to go to the menu to change what bomb you use or how you throw it. There's a quick selection, but it's useless because all the icons look the same, and you have to read the description. Also, it's frustrating that sometimes you forget to change the bomb (after every single enemy!) and you throw a wrong bomb, and then you die.
    The story is the only good thing about this game. Honestly, it plays like s**** and every good aspect can be found in the other games. Just don't play this game, and you'll have a good time with Treasure Trove.

    Specter of Torment is the best game of Treasure Trove. The wall climbing and dash move make Specter Knight the best playable character in the whole game. It's just incredible how good movement feels. As standalone game, it would be one of the best 2D platformers of all time. The story is also very dark and engaging, the hub world is full of dark charm and has an extra vicious challenge. My only criticism is that Specter Knight can feel a little overpowered sometimes, especially when you fight bosses from Shovel of Hope who weren't adapted for Specter Knights moveset.

    King of Cards is just a little better than Shovel of Hope. The moveset is a little more interesting. It is very clever that it is so forgiving, other than Plague of Shadows. Your dash move can be halted, and you can make another dash if you got hit by something to save your skin. The additional card game is fun, but it's just like EA games: pay to win. You can simply destroy your opponent with cheats you bought with in-game currency. The story is very funny, especially King Knight's mother.

    Showdown is like Super Smash Bros. for retro 2D characters. The menu is very unintuitive, the characters are not balanced well, and a few of the stages suck, but all in all, it's very much fun. The counter move is very nice, and it uses the elements from the previous games in a very clever way.

    Finally, I'd say that Shovel Knight is very good. The separate games recycle a lot of enemies and stages, but for each game, movement changes a lot. The level design is adapted to it, so it looks the same but feels different. I just wish they would make more bosses, or at least change their moveset more. It's a great platformer. Just don't play Plague of Shadows.    … Expand
  17. LikeOrNoLike
    Mar 27, 2022
    9
    Very good. It’s basically 3 games in one and they play pretty differently. Great platforming and boss fights.
  18. Wrecktangled
    Mar 17, 2022
    3
    I know this gets a lot of love, but I just cant get into it. I am relatively new to video games and this felt so dated to me. I assume many people feel nostalgia while playing this, but I just felt frustration at the artificial limits placed on the player due to trying to achieve that "older" feel.
  19. SilverGalaxia
    Jan 24, 2022
    10
    This is probably the most objectively perfect game I've ever played. Nothing but tightly designed levels, fun abilities, and with excellent visual presentation and music. For $40 it's well worth the price. If even remotely like 2D platformers then you need to play this game.
  20. redeyedwerewolf
    Jan 11, 2022
    10
    Soo much passion was put into this game. Amazing soundtrack and combat. Amazing content and replayability. Such a good game, although quite diffucult.
  21. IamSquid
    Jan 2, 2022
    10
    Shovel Knight might be the perfect example of retro gaming done well. It might also be the perfect example of indie gaming done well. Its definitely the perfect example of 2D platforming done well. Strongly recommended!
  22. B00tador
    Dec 5, 2021
    9
    There are so many great games in this package, it can't really be faulted. My personal favourites are King Of Cards and Shovel Of Hope but it's all wonderful. So endearing, such tight gameplay.
  23. Lani_337
    Dec 1, 2021
    10
    This game is fantastic! Great Level Design, items are optional, the death system that is very similar to Dark Souls is motivating and there is so much content. Three campaigns, one of them is also playable in co op Mode. Also, Shovel Knight Showdown is fun to play for a few rounds. Best Indie Game ever made and one of the best Platformers out there.
  24. JoeyPL5
    Nov 16, 2021
    9
    The best action-platformer I played with some actual difficulty and great boss battles.
  25. Hill417
    Nov 10, 2021
    8
    Shovel Knight, or as I like to call it: The little game that could. What was once just a simple kickstarter game has now etched its way into video game history with the character itself appearing in several other games. From a cameo in Yooka-Laylee, to a secret boss in Azure Striker Gunvolt, to a playable character in several indie fighting games. It would have never been so popular if theShovel Knight, or as I like to call it: The little game that could. What was once just a simple kickstarter game has now etched its way into video game history with the character itself appearing in several other games. From a cameo in Yooka-Laylee, to a secret boss in Azure Striker Gunvolt, to a playable character in several indie fighting games. It would have never been so popular if the game itself wasn’t good and thankfully it is (could you imagine if it flopped). The game wears its Mega Man inspirations on it sleeves. It stars a hero in blue armor (a knight in this case), who has to defeat eight other evil knights and their master with the final battle/stage taking place in a castle.

    To say that it is a ripoff is completely off base, it may have the same premise, but it is in a completely different time period and it has a lot of personality (and there were no new Mega Man games being released so I doubt anyone would complain if they got anything resembling a Mega Man game). Every NPC has some dialogue and even some of the more random characters get fleshed out in DLC. As for the main character Shovel Knight. He may not have a lot of personality (one thing some people critiqued about the game), but think of other game characters like Mario, Link, or Mega Man. Other 8 bit heroes who did not have much personality, but they are all icons in the gaming world. What makes the character so memorable is… well he has a gimmick, he is a knight who uses a Shovel and that was all he needed. As a wrestling fan I know first hand that if a character has a cool gimmick they can get popular instantly.

    There are some layers to his characters however. I won’t go to deep into to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say that after some levels he will have a recurring dream about his greatest failure. So beneath that armor is a tortured soul with a big regret and it is his driving force on his quest. The bosses have their own motivations too, some are more expanded upon on in the DLC (which I will not be talking about because they all deserve their own review). They are fun characters who make the most of their screen time like the greedy Treasure Knight, the itty bitty Tinker Knight, the pretentious Propeller Knight, and my personal favorite Polar Knight who gives off an “I’m too old for this **** vibe. It goes without saying that all of the gimmicks of the knights reflect on their stages.

    All of the stages are colorful and challenging and memorable in their own way (side rant Propeller Knight took off years of my life and I hate him and his airship). While you don’t get a special power up or form from defeating the bosses, but during the levels if you go off the beaten path and find a treasure chest you can find a relic that relates to the boss, but at a cost. These things aren’t cheap ya know, but a lot of them aren’t worth it. Personally I just used the Dust Knuckles, Flame Wand, The Phase Locket, and the Chalices. Not gonna lie the Phase Locket bailed me out of a jam. Some might say that these relics and health upgrades can make the game easier, but you can make it more difficult by destroying the checkpoints and in return you’ll get some money.

    As for the final boss it is a pretty emotional fight and when you get to the final phase and after conquering the other bosses it makes you feel like you can take on the world.

    The ending will put a smile on your face as you see what happened to the other characters and how they turned their lives around (except for King Knight) and that final scene was just heartwarming, making your entire journey and the frustrations along the way worth the effort. I loved Shovel Knight and it deserves the praise it received.    … Expand
  26. Pineapples2329
    Aug 3, 2021
    10
    this is one of the legendary indie games, and a must buy. my favorite part of these games are how they adds new mechanics constantly throughout the level, usually to combine them all in the final stretch in a very difficult section. King of cards has more simple, shorter levels, similar to mario games.
    Shovel of hope:10/10
    Plague of shadows:7/10
    specter of torment: 10/10
    king of cards:11/10
  27. Teaisready
    Aug 1, 2021
    10
    First of all i think shovel knight treasure trove is the best game ever made.
    With that said people maybe would raise and eyebrow for that statement but really what yacht club has created is the perfect example of an indie game done right. I truly think that every indie game developer should take yacht club as an inspiration.
    Why i love shovel knight so much? First i think the platforming    First of all i think shovel knight treasure trove is the best game ever made.
    With that said people maybe would raise and eyebrow for that statement but really what yacht club has created is the perfect example of an indie game done right. I truly think that every indie game developer should take yacht club as an inspiration.
    Why i love shovel knight so much?
    First i think the platforming is one of the best especially with specter knight and king knight.
    Second the story is so good for NES like game and good anyway especially with specter knight and shovel knight.
    Third the content the game has to offer is just sooooooo good for a indie platformer you will always have fun even on the side stuff especially with king knight.
    And well i can go on forever why this game is the best but to round things up this game have magic that i didn't experience in any other game and i played a LOT of games in my time.    … Expand
  28. alan2pc
    Dec 5, 2020
    7
    This game is ok, but is definitely frustrating at times. It is a Mega Man clone, especially in level design, enemy design and boss design. Level selection layout is similar to Super Mario 3. Interestingly, it shares similarities with Hollow Knight, with the shovel bounce off the heads of enemies and the money drop that floats in air upon death. All of those games I enjoyed a ton, butThis game is ok, but is definitely frustrating at times. It is a Mega Man clone, especially in level design, enemy design and boss design. Level selection layout is similar to Super Mario 3. Interestingly, it shares similarities with Hollow Knight, with the shovel bounce off the heads of enemies and the money drop that floats in air upon death. All of those games I enjoyed a ton, but Shovel Knight not quite as much. Mega Man bosses were easy if you figured out the order to beat the bosses in and a particular boss’s weakness. Shovel Knight bosses were just easy. Super Mario 3 just had better gameplay, along with a bigger map with interesting warp options. Hollow Knight had better gameplay, better art, less frustrating deaths, and you could get your money back most of the time. Mostly, I just didn’t find the game well balanced. Shovel knight’s purple armor allowed additional magic, the phase locket cost little magic to induce invincibility, and 2 goblets of red ichor could be called upon to replenish both magic and HP completely. Consequently, deaths by enemy were few. Deaths instead came through frustrating platforming falls into bottomless pits or spikes for an instant death. These were often caused by kickback from your own attack, difficult sections of moving parts, or a combination of wind and spikes. I like hard games, and Super Meat Boy was a favorite, but these deaths always seamed to come after a significant playthrough, right before the next checkpoint. A portion of my money was often lost as it would fall in difficult and/or unretrievable areas. Unlocking secret areas was pretty unimaginative as well, as most were simply found by shoveling through a knot in the wall. I did enjoy the tower of fate and the final bosses, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the rest of the game. And worst of all, after beating Shovel of Hope, I played the next game expecting a new game. What I got was largely THE SAME GAME!!!! - same exact levels, tweaked a little. The difference was that you played with a different character with a new set of skills - lame.

    Ok - so I kept playing and the game was tweaked more than I thought. It burrowed levels from the original but changed them to varying degrees, rewrote the stories, and changed various other aspects. Plague knight had a steeper learning curve and lots of weapon combination choices. It was perhaps the most frustrating game of the 4, but also had the most replay ability. Also, the best writing of the 4 games was Plague knight. Specter knight I found most enjoyable overall as the gameplay felt so natural and pit deaths were minimized. King of cards probably had second best gameplay and introduced a card game, but the rules were not explained well. This was probably the second most enjoyable for me.    … Expand
  29. ophone
    May 8, 2021
    8
    This software reeks of NES by its graphics, epic musics, sound effects, gameplay and difficulty level.
    But the developers cheated a bit, the NES would have never been able to reproduce such a platformer: No sprite flickering and no sound bugs, while providing comfort instalments like automatic game saves between the stages.
    It contains five games nowadays: - The original Shovel Knight    This software reeks of NES by its graphics, epic musics, sound effects, gameplay and difficulty level.
    But the developers cheated a bit, the NES would have never been able to reproduce such a platformer: No sprite flickering and no sound bugs, while providing comfort instalments like automatic game saves between the stages.
    It contains five games nowadays:
    - The original Shovel Knight (called Shovel of Hope here)
    - Plague of Shadows
    - Specter of Torment
    - King of Cards
    - Showdown (a game like an 8 bit version of Super Smash Bros.)
    My favourite out of these is clearly the original game. A knight with huge horns on his helmet who battles with a shovel, while using it also like Scrooge McDuck uses his cane in the NES game Duck Tales, jumping around on it like on a pogo stick.
    Without being sarcastic: Which geniuses came up with these ideas?

    That said, I had to lower the score a bit. A kind of lassitude came up because I played all the games (minus Showdown) consecutively without really playing a different game in between. On top of that I got stuck in the middle of Plague of Shadows, having difficulties to fully familiarise with the crucial bomb throwing mechanic, and in King of Cards, though the addition of a card game was a nice diversion I'm kind of bad at those in general.    … Expand
  30. MaddoxWhite
    Apr 24, 2021
    8
    These devs are some of the most devoted I have ever seen. They literally added a Smash Bros mode for no reason and it's amazing.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Switch Game of 2017
14
#14 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
13
#13 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. App Trigger
    Apr 21, 2017
    90
    Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is practically a must-own for anyone who has just picked up a Nintendo Switch. The expected excellent platforming fun, enjoyable storytelling, and impressive art and sound of all three campaigns not only comes all packed together in one title, but also includes better accessibility than ever before on a platform the title feels made for.
    Read full review
  2. Vooks
    Apr 6, 2017
    100
    Treasure Trove is packed to the brim with content and the different ways you can play through these games is wonderfully broad. Whether its co-op or solo, handheld or docked – it’s up to you. I don’t care. Just go play Shovel Knight.
    Read full review
  3. FNintendo
    Mar 22, 2017
    90
    Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is a compilation of the previous Shovel Knight adventures that gets everything right. Its long lifespan, very detailed and quality level design, as well as its challenges and plot make the Shovel Knight series one of the best contemporary platformers designed in the 8-bit retro style. With Treasure Trove, fans of old school sidescrollers will find everything they could want.
    Read full review
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