Shovel Knight has earned a reputation as the king of indie games. His prevalence extends beyond his own successful games, often appearing as a guest character in other indie titles, through alternate costumes, exclusive gear, or random encounters in different games. This widespread recognition has firmly established Shovel Knight's success.
The Shovel Knight series encompasses a variety of games, with five featured in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove and two spinoffs. While some games represent the pinnacle of the retro genre, others are average entries leveraging the IP.
7 Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon
A Unique Venture into Puzzle Gaming
Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon ventures into the puzzle genre using the world and characters of Shovel Knight. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the game offers quick and challenging puzzles, albeit lacking the main gameplay loop of the series. While it may not fully satisfy Shovel Knight fans, puzzle enthusiasts might still find enjoyment in it.
6 Shovel Knight Showdown
An Entertaining Smash Bros Alternative
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, Linux
- Release Date: December 10, 2019
- Developer: Yacht Club Games
Originally conceived as an assist trophy for Smash Bros, Shovel Knight later received its own platform fighting game. While less mechanically complex, it provides an opportunity to play as up to 20 characters from the series. Despite being primarily local play, its Adventure Mode with unique battles and narrative arcs for each character makes it a worthwhile experience.
5 Shovel Knight Dig
The Long-Awaited Sequel with Unfulfilled Expectations
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, iOS
- Release Date: September 23, 2022
- Developer: Nitrome, Yacht Club Games
After an eight-year wait, Shovel Knight fans were finally treated to a sequel. While it introduced new gameplay elements, its minimalistic story leaves little reason for replay. Despite its impressive features, it lacks the lasting impact seen in other games of the series.