Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Grounded 2
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 Starter Pack
Recommended reading
Mina the Hollower
Action Games The Shovel Knight devs' Steam Next Fest gem is such a perfect homage to Zelda: Link's Awakening that I wish I was playing on an actual Game Boy
Screenshot featuring Toad and Toadette from the Wii U version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Games The 25 best Wii U games of all time
Mina the Hollower Summer preview
Adventure Games Shovel Knight devs unveil the demo and release date for the Castlevania meets Zelda: Link's Awakening game I've wanted for years, and I can tell you it's every bit as good as that pedigree suggests
Aran holds a huge sword aloft, mouth open in a battle cry in the promotional key art for Blades of Fire used as the header on storefronts
Action RPGs After 3 hours, I'm impressed by how Blades of Fire smelts Dark Souls and Monster Hunter together to forge high-impact action into twisted new shapes
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
Aran does a jump strike at an enemy charging up an attack in Blades of Fire
Action RPGs Blades of Fire review: "Following up Metroid Dread with a dark fantasy soulslike full of inventive ideas that I find delightfully infectious"
Elden Ring Nightreign Executor
Action RPGs My least favorite Elden Ring Nightreign character just became one of my top choices by stopping a collapsing universe with a sword
  1. Games
  2. Platformer
  3. Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight review

Reviews
By Tony Wilson published 26 June 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Nostalgic art style

  • +

    Unique stages and bosses

  • +

    Lots of extras on the world map

Cons

  • -

    Occasionally feeling overpowered

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the team at Yacht Club Games has crafted a loving tribute to the classic NES Mega Man titles with Shovel Knight. It’s a journey through totally unique stages topped off by one-of-a-kind bosses, with fun power-ups and platforming along the way. And it’s a journey through retro nostalgia, reminding us of a time when games and stories were simple yet fun.

The tale begins with Shovel Knight returning from a time of isolation in the farmlands. He once journeyed with a female companion named Shield Knight until disaster at a fortress known as the Tower of Fate caused a cursed amulet to make her disappear. Not vanish like a magic trick, mind you--what actually happened is never outright explained, but it does do a good job of setting the stage for the game’s simple retro experience. The event--whatever it was--caused Shovel Knight to retreat from the spotlight… until the evil Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter took over the land. Now he must stop that team of villains. It’s not a high-concept premise, but it’s all Shovel Knight needs to plop you right down into the action.

“Plop” is the right word there, as Shovel Knight lacks any real tutorial. This is a good thing--you get right into the action in the game’s first level with no handholding. Shovel Knight can jump and attack with his shovel, but he can also use it like Scrooge McDuck’s cane in Duck Tales (NES), bouncing over enemy heads and obstacles. His various manoeuvres are simple to grasp, but tough to master, and that constantly gives you an exciting feeling that there’s more to discover. And there is...

Beyond the battles

When you’re not exploring the main levels, there are some fun diversions on the world map. Optional bosses like The Baz (copy-and-pasted from Divekick) occasionally pop up, and these are some of the best fights of the game. There are also optional challenge levels, which actually require some of those overpowered items to complete--but these are more difficult than the standard stages, and reward you with lots of treasure. For those who want a greater challenge, they are a great option.

Every level is completely different from the last, with new traps like falling chandeliers and spurts of lava being regularly introduced. It’s a fun way to drive you to play “just one more level,” to see--and conquer--the new features of each one. They’re each themed on a member of the Order of No Quarter, a board of knights with varying elemental abilities (see the gallery below for a breakdown). One such stage, modeled after Specter Knight, is a dark graveyard, where you can only see the platforms below you when lightning flashes, lighting up the area. It’s a thrilling stage; a highlight amongst a slew of genuinely novel levels.

This variety carries over into the end-of-level bosses themselves. Each stage is capped with a battle against one of the Order’s knights, whose personality matches his home level. Just as you’re driven to see what each level offers, it’s a thrill seeing a new knight in battle.

Treasure Knight, for example, lives in a flooded submarine filled with plundered gold, and he attacks by zipping around the arena with a grappling hook/spear gun device. Plague Knight lives in a castle-turned-potion-shop, and he floods the screen with vials of poison and explosives. These are pulse-pounding battles littered with flying projectiles and flailing blades.

Image 1 of 11

To save the land, Shovel Knight must battle the Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter. But who are these big bad bosses?

Black Knight

Shovel Knight’s rival. He fights with a spade to counter his opponent’s shovel.

King Knight

Lives in his tall, splendorous tower. Fights with a sword and deadly confetti.

Specter Knight

Skulks in the graveyard. Slices with his reaper.

Tinker Knight

Designs traps in his tower. Battles from within his mech-like invention.

Plague Knight

Creates deadly concoctions. Tosses potions and poisons in battle.

Treasure Knight

Gloat in his sunken submarine. Attacks with a spear gun.

Mole Knight

Lives in his boiling volcano. Slashes and digs with red-hot claws.

Polar Knight

Resides in a winter wonderland. Swings his massive axe to attack.

Propellor Knight

Runs a fleet of airships. Glides about the battlefield and slashes his rapier.

The Enchantress

The overlord of this evil land. Fires dark magic spells.

While those fights may sound difficult--especially for gamers who have fallen away from (or never experienced) retro difficulty--there is a balancing force within the game. Shovel Knight can purchase gear, like a Phase Bracelet that lets him ghost through enemies and attacks, and a Fire Rod that shoots ranged fireballs. Items like these do make combat and exploration easier, but they also completely nerf the boss fights. Once you purchase enough gear, the knights become pushovers--I spammed one of the final fights with a ricocheting magic and won with almost no effort, and the fact that treasure is plentiful means purchasing these abilities is too easy. I felt godlike a few times, and that left some fights that should have been intense feeling hollow. The upside is that these overpowered items give you a head start in Shovel Knight’s New Game Plus. Which is... tough.

That said, my first journey through Shovel Knight was still a blast. I loved seeing what each new level and boss were going to throw at me. I never felt like I was seeing the same screen twice, and even when I was overpowered, I was still having fun. Most will blow through the game in 6 hours, but many will feel the urge to replay on higher difficulties. I did. Why? Because I really “dig” Shovel Knight... Yeah? YEAH! I had to make that joke at least once.

This game was reviewed on PC.

More info

GenrePlatformer
DescriptionAs a knight armed with a trusty shovel, you smack, clobber, and dig your way through the land.
Platform"Wii U","3DS","PC"
US censor rating"Everyone","Everyone","Everyone"
UK censor rating"","",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
More
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo Platforms
Tony Wilson
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Tony lives in Maryland, where he writes about those good old-fashioned video games for GamesRadar+. His words have also appeared on GameSpot and G4, but he currently works for Framework Video, and runs Dungeons and Dragons streams. 

Read more
Mina the Hollower
The Shovel Knight devs' Steam Next Fest gem is such a perfect homage to Zelda: Link's Awakening that I wish I was playing on an actual Game Boy
Screenshot featuring Toad and Toadette from the Wii U version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
The 25 best Wii U games of all time
Mina the Hollower Summer preview
Shovel Knight devs unveil the demo and release date for the Castlevania meets Zelda: Link's Awakening game I've wanted for years, and I can tell you it's every bit as good as that pedigree suggests
Aran holds a huge sword aloft, mouth open in a battle cry in the promotional key art for Blades of Fire used as the header on storefronts
After 3 hours, I'm impressed by how Blades of Fire smelts Dark Souls and Monster Hunter together to forge high-impact action into twisted new shapes
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
Aran does a jump strike at an enemy charging up an attack in Blades of Fire
Blades of Fire review: "Following up Metroid Dread with a dark fantasy soulslike full of inventive ideas that I find delightfully infectious"
Latest in Platformer
Donkey Kong Bananza amiibo collectone in resort layer with DK looking amazed
All Donkey Kong Bananza amiibo unlocks and how to use amiibos
Donkey Kong Bananza sublayers and levels DK and purple rock punching down to the next layer
How many sublayers are there in Donkey Kong Bananza?
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot shows DK looking shocked, with his hands in the air and eyes popping out of his head.
Nintendo is probably regretting those Switch 2 mouse controls as players flock to Donkey Kong Bananza's artist mode to create penises and other cursed sculptures
Donkey Kong punches a rock enemy in the face in Donkey Kong Bananza with a large purple glowing area in the background
I'm glad to announce Donkey Kong Bananza has the Super Mario Odyssey sauce: it's taken less than a day for players to skip a boss fight entirely with speedrunning tech
DK and Pauline stare at an explosion of gold in Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't have Switch 2's latest firmware on the cart, which means there's still no way to play backwards compatible Switch 1 games without an internet connection
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot of Donkey Kong punching through the landscape with pieces of banana flying through the air
Donkey Kong Bananza finally confirms who voices DK in the Switch 2 era, and it's the exact Mario Movie actor we all thought it was
Latest in Reviews
The GameSir G7 Pro review on a desk
This controller just stole the "best value for money" award from all the other Xbox gamepads
Front of Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse on a wooden desk
Razer Deathadder V4 Pro review: "the esports mouse to beat"
Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptop on a wooden desk with purple backlighting
Alienware 16 Area-51 review: "it's back, baby"
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
A Saturnine Terminator and two MKII Crusader pattern Space Marines on a wooden surface in front of the Saturnine box
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Saturnine review in progress - "A complex, multi-layered knot of strategy that feels like old-school Warhammer in the best way"
Zion Wright grinds along a wooden balustrade in in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4's San Francisco level
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  1. DK and Pauline look surprised in Donkey Kong Bananza
    1
    Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
  2. 2
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  3. 3
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  4. 4
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  5. 5
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...