Shovel Knight

 Xbox One
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Jun 27, 2015
    90
    A return to a level of platforming excellence that's been long forgotten. [Issue#125, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jun 16, 2015
    90
    A gripping platformer that cajoles you into platforming amazing feats of dexterity. [July 2015, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. We Got This Covered
    May 3, 2015
    90
    Shovel Knight is a fantastic game, which deserves all of the praise that it's received since launching last year. Now available on the Xbox One with iconic bonus content, it's even better than before and is a no-brainer of a purchase.
  5. Vandal
    May 1, 2015
    90
    If you like 8-bit-like games, you cannot miss this one. An outstanding action-platformer that lands on console with a brilliant version and tons of content.
  6. Pure Xbox
    Apr 29, 2015
    90
    Shovel Knight is magnificent, and even though it's technically less than a year old, it already feels like a classic.
  7. MondoXbox
    May 10, 2015
    88
    A true and great love letter to early 8-bit action-platform games, mixed with modern game design and mechanics. Unmissable.
  8. SpazioGames
    Jun 9, 2015
    85
    Shovel Knight on Xbox One keeps everything that worked so well in all of the other versions, adding a crisp resolution and, most importantly, the Battletoads stage. More than enough to deserve a download.
  9. 3DJuegos
    May 5, 2015
    85
    Shovel Knight is a well-made action platformer. Old school gamers will love it for sure.
  10. Level7.nu
    Jun 10, 2015
    80
    Shovel Knight is an action filled side scrolling adventure that have a lot in common with challenging classics like Mega Man and Duck Tales. There are some badly designed levels and too many trial and error moments, but for the most part Shovel Knight is a good reminder that games were a bit more rewarding back in the days.
  11. Metro GameCentral
    Apr 29, 2015
    80
    One of the best retro homages of recent years, that cleverly combines the best elements of older 2D games with plenty of new ideas of its own.

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Xbox One Game of 2015
79
#79 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 69
  3. Negative: 12 out of 69
  1. 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    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    … Full Review »
  2. pedropss
    Apr 29, 2015
    10
    The game is perfect!

    Music, Graphics, Bosses, Animations! I was excited for it before playing, now I'm delighted. When I see it launched    The game is perfect!

    Music, Graphics, Bosses, Animations!

    I was excited for it before playing, now I'm delighted. When I see it launched I didn't even thought if I should buy it or not. I just bought.

    One of the best decisions.

    Played with my friend sitting beside me and we couldn't stop seeing references.

    Also, the music. If you have some doubts look for the music and listen.

    Best game in a long time. Really.    … Full Review »
  3. MacauDragon
    May 3, 2015
    6
    Ok I understand it's a retro game but come on so few pixels it's an insult to the buyers you could do it much prettier.

    I agree that its a    Ok I understand it's a retro game but come on so few pixels it's an insult to the buyers you could do it much prettier.

    I agree that its a very good game and should be 10..    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »