Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is a love letter to those who grew up on side-scrolling action games. With excellent level design and presentation, this short and sweet platformer will satisfy any retro game fan.

Shovel Knight is a game that you should buy, plain and simple. It takes what could have been a simple nostalgia trip to a new level and shows that shovelry is alive and well.

Shovel Knight is a true masterpiece of retro platforming. If you ever enjoyed an NES title and wanted to relive those days then this game was tailor-made for you.

Creations like Shovel Knight prove that games don’t have to have fancy graphics or cost lots of money to be engrossing adventures. Quirky, endearing, challenging and wholly entertaining, Shovel Knight offers a slice of old-school platforming action at its best. Fans of the genre should consider this title essential, and anyone else that feels like a break from the myriad of multi-million pound developments being released left, right and centre should seriously consider giving Shovel Knight a try. You never know, you just might love it!

Shovel Knight balances 8-bit nostalgia with original gameplay ideas for an incredibly well-rounded adventure.

I absolutely love Shovel Knight. It doesn't only understand what retro gamers want; it also understands exactly what it is, copping plentiful inspiration from the past while forming it all into its own game. At seven or eight hours long your first time through (and a New Game+ mode once you beat it), it lasts longer than your typical throwback, and all of that time is well-spent, whether you're getting through a new stage, going back to an old one to grind for money to buy upgrades, or exploring its many secrets. It plays brilliantly, looks stunning, and sounds great. Shovel Knight is my favo...

Yacht Club Games "Shovel Knight" is a testament to what gaming was in the past and what it can be today. Not only does it feature old school graphics and gameplay but they've crafted that all types of gamers can relate and enjoy their crafted masterpiece. An indie gem that should not not be missed by anyone who enjoys gaming.

The floor is made of lava.

Shovel of Hope stands as an example of how excellent retro-themed platformers can be when you have a team of experienced and passionate developers working on them, and still to this day acts as a standard which other, similar releases are judged against. The interesting level designs, humorous writing, high replayability, and intuitive controls make this one an easy recommendation, although with the caveat that the full Treasure Trove release is still the better way to go. Even so, it’s tough to go wrong with this original campaign, and if you haven’t played it yet, we’d highly recommend that ...

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There is a reason we can all remember so much from games that are almost 30 years old, and Shovel Knight has tapped into that reason in a profound way. We don't love the brands of our youth; we love the characters, the settings, the way actually playing those games made us feel. Shovel Knight doesn't settle for acknowledging those aspects; it includes them around every single corner. Shovel Knight is so much more than a love letter to the genre — it is, in fact, the kind of game people write love letters about.

Shovel Knight has provided a wealth of joy for me over the years, and it should come as no surprise that Yacht Club is so popular after founding a franchise with such a beloved cast of characters. At £40, the collection may seem steep for an 8-bit platformer, but if you have the spare cash then I guarantee you’ll get your money’s worth. Yacht Club has created and sustained a franchise with depth and style that you’ll enjoy when you’re playing for the first time and find yourself coming back to, picking up the shovel again and again.