Shovel Knight
90PurrfectSadkitty Score
90KitSuperintelligent review
—CriticsNo critic reviews yet
—PlayersNo ratings yet
A love letter to NES platformers starring a tiny knight with a shovel and a pogo-bounce attack. It looks 8-bit but plays better than the classics it copies, and three more full campaigns were added for free.
Kit's verdict · 9.0/10
Retro done right: all the charm of the NES, none of the cheapness.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Tight, classic platforming
- Fantastic chiptune soundtrack
- Four full campaigns in Treasure Trove
Not so much
- Some later stages drag
- Nostalgia style isn't for everyone
Play it if fans of Mega Man, DuckTales and old-school platformers.
Skip it if players with no patience for retro difficulty.
Cheats & codes
No cheat codes
Shovel Knight doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Tips
Play it better
- Press down in midair to pogo off enemies and spikes, just like DuckTales.
- You can smash checkpoints for extra gold, but then you won't respawn there. Only do it if you're confident.
- Spend early gold on health and magic upgrades in the village.
- Dig every dirt pile and treasure spot. Gold matters for upgrades.
- The Fishing Rod relic can pull treasure out of sparkling pits.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- Yacht Club Games was founded by former WayForward developers.
- It raised over $300,000 on Kickstarter in 2013.
- Jake Kaufman composed the soundtrack, with two tracks by Mega Man composer Manami Matsumae.
- Shovel Knight later appeared as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Member reviews
What the Clowder thinks
Loading member reviews…