Shovel Knight Reviews

Shovel Knight is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2014

In a sea of throwback, nostalgia driven pixel-art platformers, Shovel Knight is a fantastic modern take on the genre, and worthy of play even for those who never owned Nintendo's grey and black box

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Apr 28, 2015

Capturing the spirit of the past, Shovel Knight once again shines on PlayStation platforms with one of the best platformers in recent years, made even better with the inclusion of cross-buy.

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Jun 30, 2014

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.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 8, 2014

Shovel Knight is a genuine success. While early play will entice comparisons due to its clear reverence of the past, the true mark of the game's quality is that, upon completion, you'll simply refer to it's many levels, bosses, and ideas, as Shovel Knight. The wonderful modern retro classic, Shovel Knight.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 27, 2015

Few games are as loved as Shovel Knight.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2014

Shovel Knight is the kind of game people write love letters about

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Jun 26, 2014

A varied and charming platformer, only blighted when it lets players get a little overpowered.

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IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2014

Shovel Knight -- in all of its old-school glory -- is arguably the best game released so far in 2014.

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9.2 / 10.0
Apr 24, 2015

Shovel Knight may have a few minor issues, but it represents the epitome of 8-bit gaming.

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9.3 / 10.0
Apr 29, 2015

‎Fun, beautiful, playable, full of secrets, work of art.‎‎ So, in a nutshell, we can describe Shovel Knight. Ah! of course, ‎‎Shovel Knight comes to Xbox One with spanish texts.‎

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93 / 100
Jun 25, 2014

Shovel Knight isn't just a nostalgic act. Yes, nostalgia plays a big part in its charm, but it's an expertly crafted action-platformer that's just as enjoyable to play as Mega Man or Castlevania. Old school gamers will love Shovel Knight's retro sensibilities, but they'll also appreciate its modern touches.

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9.3 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2014

Shovel Knight works well because it knows exactly what it wants to be. The people behind it have a clear love of retro games, and that collective passion has created something great. So often we play games that try to prey on nostalgia in the cheapest ways possible, whether it's half-hearted HD remakes or blatant ripoffs. Shovel Knight is one of the few games that not only honors the past, but something we may be reminiscing about for years to come.

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4.7 / 5.0
Aug 9, 2015

The game also has an incredible soundtrack that is a joint effort between Manami Matsumae from Megaman fame and Jake Kauffman. Both of these have created a soundtrack that is perfect fit for the game. The fast-paced songs fit the mood perfectly and are a joy to listen in the game.

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94 / 100
Aug 4, 2014

While paying tribute to the classics, Shovel Knight still feels unique with fantastic level designs that are extremely challenging and rewarding to complete. Add to that the beautiful visuals, a fantastic chiptune soundtrack, and memorable boss battles, it all adds up to Yacht Club Games love letter to 8-bit being an experience that one should not pass by.

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Bit Cultures
Dakota Scibilia
95%
Sep 16, 2015

All in all, Shovel Knight is just plain awesome. The game aimed high and hit the mark. Yacht Club Games were obviously out to honor some of the classics, and they did a damn fine job of it.

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9.5 / 10.0
Apr 30, 2015

A sensational platform adventure for everyone, regardless of age. Refined control, stylized binding, interesting bosses, numerous secrets... Such a thing could only be created in an independent studio. A real masterpiece from game enthusiasts.

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gameranx
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Jul 14, 2014

I cannot recommend Shovel Knight enough. Whether you played games during the NES-era or not, Shovel Knight is both a great introduction and re-imagining of 8-bit platformers.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2015

Shovel Knight is a modern classic that takes the 2-D platforming genre and modernizes it. There are minor complaints here and there, but they're easily overlooked when you're having so much fun playing the game. The PlayStation 4 version runs perfectly, and since it's a cross-buy with the Vita version, it helps to make it feel well worth the $14.99 price tag. If you're a fan of Mega Man-style platformers or are looking for something that's both challenging and fair, Shovel Knight is a worthy purchase.

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95%
Mar 10, 2017

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is an excellent game you have to play today on the Nintendo Switch. The fact that this is the 3rd version of the game I've played (with Wii U and 3DS before it) and that I'm still having fun and didn't stop until I beat the game speaks volumes to its quality. If you're new to Shovel Knight, you're in for a treat! Grab Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove and you'll have plenty of content to keep you busy for a while.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jul 22, 2014

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.

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