Shovel Knight cover
FranchiseShovel KnightSeriesShovel Knight

Shovel Knight

Critic score19 critics
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First release
Jun 26, 2014
Genres
Indie, Adventure, Platform · Action, Fantasy, Comedy
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Mac, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux

Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose weapon whose techniques have now been lost to the ages. Always honest and helpful, Shovel Knight is a shining example of the code of Shovelry: Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly! But, between Shovel Knight and his beloved stands a cadre of villainous knights. These terrible foes, known as The Order of No Quarter, have been dispatched to prevent Shovel Knight from reaching the Enchantress, and will pursue their mission at any cost. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, crazy bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you!

Also known as Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope, ShovelOfHope.exe

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Shovel Knight and his partner Shield Knight are renowned adventurers, but during an expedition into the Tower of Fate a cursed amulet strikes Shield Knight down and seals the tower, leaving Shovel Knight stranded outside. Grieving the loss of his companion, he gives up adventuring and withdraws into exile. In his absence a powerful figure called the Enchantress rises and spreads evil across the land, eventually unsealing the Tower of Fate. Learning this, Shovel Knight sets out to return to the tower in the hope of finding and rescuing Shield Knight, facing the Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter along the way.Read more

Shovel Knight and his partner Shield Knight are renowned adventurers, but during an expedition into the Tower of Fate a cursed amulet strikes Shield Knight down and seals the tower, leaving Shovel Knight stranded outside. Grieving the loss of his companion, he gives up adventuring and withdraws into exile. In his absence a powerful figure called the Enchantress rises and spreads evil across the land, eventually unsealing the Tower of Fate. Learning this, Shovel Knight sets out to return to the tower in the hope of finding and rescuing Shield Knight, facing the Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter along the way.

Release dates
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Jun 26, 2014
Nintendo 3DS
Jun 26, 2014
Wii U
Jun 26, 2014
All 12 release dates
Mac
Sep 13, 2014
Linux
Oct 08, 2014
Wii U
Nov 05, 2014
PlayStation 3
Apr 21, 2015
PlayStation Vita
Apr 21, 2015
PlayStation 4
Apr 21, 2015
Xbox One
Apr 29, 2015
Nintendo 3DS
Jun 11, 2015
Nintendo Switch
Mar 03, 2017
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
3h
Main + Extras
8h
Completionist
10h
Game modes
Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Perspective
Side view
Where to buy
Keywords
retro, fishing, 8-bit style, female protagonist, billiards
… All 51, level selection, amiibo, crowdfunding - kickstarter, crowdfunding, digital distribution, xbox controller support for pc, challenges, dualshock 4 support for pc, upgradeable weapons, transforming boss, deliberately retro, pax south 2017, original soundtrack release, 4 player co-op, off-tv play, stereoscopic 3d, pick your gender, wii u pro controller support, wii remote support on wii u, wii nunchuk support on wii u, crowd funded, level select map, in-game achievements, female antagonist, pax prime 2013, respawning, pax prime 2014, pax east 2014, pax prime 2015, wii classic controller support, recurring boss, miiverse integration, pax east 2015, development hell, merchants, gender recasting, sideways wii remote gameplay, gamescom 2015, new game plus, pax east 2013, playable boss, slideshow cutscene, plague doctor, male protagonist, the game awards - best independent game - winner, streetpass support

At a Glance

Critic Score
89
Main Story (IGDB)
3h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
8h
Completionist (IGDB)
10h
OverviewHow it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Very Positive, 934 reviews in all languages, recorded 29 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

Multiplayer

  • Local co-opSteam · 29 Oct
  • Shared or split screenSteam · 29 Oct
  • Steam Remote Play TogetherSteam · 29 Oct

Feature data: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

Compatibility, feature and availability information shown on this page is recorded from the storefronts and services named against each fact, on the dates shown. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks of Valve Corporation; Steam data is provided via the Steam Web API. Other product and service names are trademarks of their respective owners. CritScore is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or certified by Valve Corporation or any other storefront or platform holder, and does not itself test or certify any game.