Shovel Knight Dig Reviews
Shovel Knight Dig isn't just a cash-in on the series' popularity. It's a game that stands on its own merits as a worthy prequel to the original. The titular hero's moveset translates perfectly to a more vertical orientation, and Nitrome's bite-sized level design makes full use of Yacht Club's well-established gameplay style. The 16-bit-style visuals and music are an absolute treat, especially for fans of the series, and the roguelike elements present a nice sense of progression and replayability. Shovel Knight Dig might not be the exact sequel that fans have been clamoring for, but it's the next best thing.
Shovel Knight Dig is a superb title that has given a new dimension to a beloved character that already exuded fun and greatness. The new mechanics blend seamlessly with the characters and enemies to create a new, yet very familiar situation that anyone who hasn't played the original game can enjoy.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Shovel Knight Dig is the perfect first roguelike, packed full of that tasty Shovel Knight gameplay we all know and love.
Shovel Knight Dig is another triumphant and enjoyable entry in the popular indie knight's growing legacy, offering up thrilling, challenging gameplay that will appeal to fans both old and new. Though it may be a little on the short side, every minute of Shovel Knight Dig positively oozes quality, whether that be the snappy action-platforming or the fresh 16-bit art style and animation. We'd give this one a high recommendation to anyone who enjoyed the original platformers or to anyone looking for a tough (but not offputtingly tough) new roguelite. Shovel Knight Dig has got it where it counts and can stand tall beside its noble predecessors.
Nitrome and Yacht Club Games' collaboration makes for the best looking (and sounding) Shovel Knight game yet. Rock solid, tight controls and fun roguelite mechanics make this a must play for any fan of the genre.
Shovel Knight Dig, while far from being the furthest departure from the franchise's classic gameplay, still manages to be a unique experience thanks to the unique twist of having to use a platforming move set to make progress by traversing vertical space. The Shovel Knight gameplay is still as crisp as ever, and Shovel Knight Dig's story and progression systems do a great job of staying out of the way, and ultimately encouraging you to try one more run.
Shovel Knight Dig finds our spade-wielding hero heading in another new direction, and while this trip goes downward, they manage to strike gold here as well. Addictive gameplay, gorgeous graphics and impressive levels that play host to a lot of unique challenges all get mixed together in order to create another winning action game worth checking out for fans and newcomers alike. It truly is another gem that's been dug up here.
Dig is not a sequel, but even calling it a spin-off doesn't feel totally right. This is just the 2D side-scrolling adventures of Shovel Knight's origins displayed through a different vertical lens with a dash of arcade roguelike design tossed in. Through it all, the bountiful creativity that Yacht Club has made their staple is everywhere throughout the experience.
Shovel Knight Dig is beautiful with great music and fits right into the franchise, even though it switches things up from the 2D platformer we are used to. It is an incredibly addictive game that is full of replayability!
Small complaints aside, Shovel Knight Dig is still a fantastic game. It deftly mixes Shovel Knight mechanics with rogue-like elements, to create a game that’s more than the sum of its parts. While the difficulty level can feel a bit overwhelming, and may deter some gamers, this is still an entry any fan of the series will find themselves loving. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to burrow into this exciting new adventure from Yacht Club Games!
Shovel Knight Dig is another fantastic new entry into the series by Yacht Club Games, and it will no doubt go on to be a beloved game.
Shovel Knigh Dig is another success in the universe of the knight of the shovel, a roguelite that, without moving too far from the formula of the genre and what has been seen in other games of the character, manages to give it a spin to make it feel somewhat fresh. And he succeeds. Guaranteed fun for lovers of the most agile and casual roguelite.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Just like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, Shovel Knight Dig proves to be a very solid spin-off for a very beloved character. The familiar platforming of the original mixes well with the predominantly vertical focus, while still maintaining a responsiveness that fans expect. The roguelike nature of the title means that there's a good amount of randomization and temporary upgrades. The quick average runs mean that levels aren't a slog. Overall, it works well as a starter roguelike, and it's a perfect choice for both Shovel Knight and platforming fans alike who are looking for something different.
Shovel Knight Dig is a great Downwell-esque roguelike adaptation of the franchise’s formula, though its somewhat unfair steep difficulty curve can be a bit irritating at times.
Shovel Knight Dig is a great and accessible roguelike that proves that the Yacht Club Games knight is capable of leading good adventures in different genres. While not without its flaws, this nimble and fun journey manages to entertain by wisely using risk and reward dynamics in various aspects of its design until victory is finally achieved. Let's keep digging then!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A fresh new take in the Shovel Knight adventures which succesfully embraces the roguelike trend and wraps it in wonderful pixelart.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shovel Knight Dig is a wonderful melding of the mechanics and feel of Shovel Knight and the ever evolving roguelite genre. It stumbles a bit on its roguelite progression mechanics, and its a bit on the short side, but none of that stops Shovel Knight Dig from being a blast to play.
Still though, because most of my eight hours with Dig were spent spelunking through stages leading down, I rarely had to think about the game’s roguelite efforts. I spent most of my time playing through beautiful stages to the tune of chippy synth tunes, fascinated with how far Nitrome and Yacht Club were able to stretch the “dig” aspect of this game. Perhaps the roguelite nature of Dig will play a bigger role in my post-game excavations because I’m rearing to jump back in to discover all of its secrets. Even if it doesn’t, though, I know I still have at least a few more hours of great Shovel Knight gameplay ahead of me and in the world of platforming, that’s a treasure worth digging up.
Shovel Knight Dig takes everything that was fantastic about the retro platformer and recontextualizes it into a roguelike that's hard to put down.