A tight, modern take on NES-era platforming with the responsiveness retro fans want. Multiple campaigns remix mechanics and movement styles, and all of it runs on integrated graphics without fuss. The pixel art stays readable at 720p, which matters on smaller laptop screens. The trade-off is replay value: once you've cleared each campaign, there's no procedural content to bring you back. For a certain kind of player that's fine, but if you want endless runs over a single polished arc, something further down the list suits you better.


Shovel Knight
June 26, 2014PlatformerESRB E
About Shovel Knight
Story setup
At a glance
Screenshots
Click any screenshot to view it full size.
How long to beat
Player-reported completion times for Shovel Knight.
- Rushed
- 3hoursMain story only
- Typical
- 8hoursStory plus some extras
- Completionist
- 10hoursEvery side objective too
Estimated from 7 player reports — a small sample, so treat these as approximate.
Multiplayer & game modes
Shovel Knight offers various play modes for different gaming experiences.
Play Modes
Single Player • Multiplayer • Co-op
Age ratings
How rating boards around the world have classified Shovel Knight. Open a board for its content descriptors.
ACBPG
Mild fantasy violence, online interactivity
ESRBE
- Mild Fantasy Violence
PEGI7
- Violence
The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 7 years and over only. It contains: Non realistic looking violence towards fantasy characters - Non realistic looking violence towards characters which although human are not very detailed
Often listed alongside Shovel Knight
Titles that appear in the same guides on this site. Grouped by where they show up, not by recommendation.
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Game data and imagery provided by IGDB.com