Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Reviews

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is pure fun, whether it be bumping enemies into oblivion or performing a palette swap costume change back at camp. This hybrid of genres is never frustrating or repetitive thanks to its variety and overall good nature. With accessibility and difficulty options, there’s a level of customization that makes this approachable by anyone. The gameplay loop is dare I say addictive, very rewarding as gems are never lost, and you’re always making progress towards a full run with any given character. It may take you over a dozen hours just to see the ending, and that’s with just a single character. Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is every bit blissful as it is unique and satisfying, where every ending is a new beginning.

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9.5 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

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.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon adds a heaping pile of fun, innovative puzzle gameplay and retains the same charm that many Shovel Knight fans fell in love with years ago.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a wonderful spin-off that combines block-falling puzzle and roguelite mechanics in remarkably clever ways, resulting in yet another excellent entry in the Shovel Knight series.

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Loved
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon will absolutely scratch that puzzle itch if you’re looking for something original and different. A simple pick up and play concept that is easy to get into but offers plenty of challenges to keep you coming back again and again. With extensive options and accessibility. This title offers an experience you can tailor to your liking which I can see many gamers appreciating. This may be the PC version I’m reviewing but I will likely grab this game on Nintendo Switch as it truly feels like a pretty brilliant pocket puzzler. So, grab a shovel and get puzzling.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

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.

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9.5 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

With hugely varied gameplay and compelling Roguelike elements, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a contender for greatest ever puzzle game.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon might turn some people off with its roguelite framework and randomization, but there’s a deep puzzle game at work here; one that’s worth exploring if you’ve grown up on the action-puzzle genre. This is something I can see myself playing again in the years to come, especially with versus mode augmenting some of the leaner elements.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon is a truly delightful puzzle/rogue-lite game that is dripping with personality and fun to be had. The characters, sprite-work, music, sound effects, and overall design is stellar with a fantastic price on its head, this is a game for casual players, and serious players looking for something to master, a title worth pocketing.

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GameXplain
GameXplain
Top Critic
Liked-a-lot
Dec 12, 2021
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon - REVIEW (Switch, Steam) video thumbnail
Dec 12, 2021

It's not often that a falling block puzzler can capture the imagination, but Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon finds a buried nugget of novelty in this well-worn ground. Even though it's possible to blast through the adventure, most players will find that savoring the gameplay and enjoying their time with the noble knights is the right call. Pocket Dungeon feels of a kind with Nintendo's various Mario spinoffs and should be an essential purchase for not just fans of the series but puzzle gaming aficionados everywhere.

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80 / 100
Dec 12, 2021

‎Pocket Dungeon is a small and pleasant surprise, a puzzle game that finds its originality by merging perfectly with elements of dungeon games. It's simple to play, and complicated to master. Perhaps the most "negative" aspect is that, as a roguelike, it may not conquer everyone.‎

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8 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon ticks all sorts of boxes. It is absolutely a puzzle game. You need to deal with falling “blocks” in a timely fashion. It also feels like an action-RPG. You need to consider your health, your equipment, and the amount of damage you’ll take. Roguelike elements come up too, due to being kicked back to camp when you die and opportunities to unlock relics for future runs.

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Essential
Dec 12, 2021

Pocket Dungeon emerges as an endlessly addictive brainteaser that puzzle and roguelike fans can’t afford to miss.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2021

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is the new spin-off adventure by Yacht Club Games involving puzzling your way through a rogue-lite world. It looks and sounds great while offering a variety of fast and challenging gameplay.

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9 / 10
Dec 13, 2021

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.

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9 / 10
Dec 13, 2021

The last thing I expected was for Yacht Club Games and developer Vine to somehow emerge with a new take on the puzzle genre, but knowing what the original game did for platformers, I probably should have seen it coming.

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8 / 10
Dec 13, 2021

There’s not significant variety across these extra modes — and no online multiplayer is unfortunate — though when the core gameplay is this good, it's not a major detractor. Yacht Club Games and VINE ultimately provide an excellent puzzle spin-off, one that’s accessible for all players that'll appeal to existing fans. You won’t necessarily be here for a long time, but it’s an addictive experience that’ll keep you coming back for more.

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4 / 5.0
Dec 13, 2021

Ultimately, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a great success. It managed to meld a classic indie series with a dynamic new style, and for the most part, it works pretty well. Yes, it may be a bit too challenging for its own good, but not so much I ever put it down for long. If you’re a fan of the series or just enjoy new puzzle games, I’d definitely check it out. Besides the main adventure, there’s a ton of other modes to explore, as well as secrets to uncover. Here’s hoping the next offshoot title from Yacht Club Games continues this positive trend.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2021

With Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon, Yacht Club Games has made its versatility evident in creating gameplay radically different from Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, without losing a hint of the quality that made the developer's original game so acclaimed. The end result is a phenomenal and refined puzzle game that is complex without being alienating and has a variety of options to enhance the fun of both novice and experienced players alike. Just missing extra modes that put rules or special events in normal gameplay, thus increasing the (already immense) replayability value.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review