Shovel Knight Dig

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 17

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Shovel Knight Dig successfully recontextualizes Shovel Knight’s retro platforming into a roguelite, offering up challenging gameplay that will appeal to old and new fans.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 17

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 17

Shovel Knight Dig successfully recontextualizes Shovel Knight's retro platforming into a roguelite, offering up challenging gameplay that will appeal to old and new fans.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Shovel Knight Dig

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

17

Reviews

Average Score - 84/100

84%

Ranges

9/10

Shunal Doke (GamingBolt)

Shovel Knight Dig, while far from being the furthest departure from the franchise’s classic gameplay, still manages to be a unique experience thanks to the unique twist of having to use a platforming move set to make progress by traversing vertical space. The Shovel Knight gameplay is still as crisp as ever, and Shovel Knight Dig’s story and progression systems do a great job of staying out of the way, and ultimately encouraging you to try one more run.

September 23, 2022 |

Full Review

Shovel Knight Dig is the perfect first roguelike, packed full of that tasty Shovel Knight gameplay we all know and love.

September 22, 2022 |

Full Review

9/10

Lyle Carr (God is a Geek)

8/10

Steve Watts (GameSpot)

Shovel Knight Dig takes everything that was fantastic about the retro platformer and recontextualizes it into a roguelike that’s hard to put down.

September 22, 2022 |

Full Review

Shunal Doke (GamingBolt)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Lyle Carr (God is a Geek)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Shovel Knight Dig is the perfect first roguelike, packed full of that tasty Shovel Knight gameplay we all know and love.

Steve Watts (GameSpot)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Shovel Knight Dig takes everything that was fantastic about the retro platformer and recontextualizes it into a roguelike that’s hard to put down.

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Read the Reviews (17 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Destructoid	Chris Carter	8.5 / 10	09-22-2022	Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won’t astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.	Read review
Digital Trends	Giovanni Colantonio	3.5 / 5 stars	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig punches above its spin-off weight class, even if its roguelike elements are a little modest.	Read review
EGM	Michael Goroff	10 / 10	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig isn’t just a cash-in on the series’ popularity. It’s a game that stands on its own merits as a worthy prequel to the original. The titular hero’s moveset translates perfectly to a more vertical orientation, and Nitrome’s bite-sized level design makes full use of Yacht Club’s well-established gameplay style. The 16-bit-style visuals and music are an absolute treat, especially for fans of the series, and the roguelike elements present a nice sense of progression and replayability. Shovel Knight Dig might not be the exact sequel that fans have been clamoring for, but it’s the next best thing.	Read review
Eurogamer	Christian Donlan	Recommended	09-22-2022	Compact and terrifying, this score-attack shooter feels like it’s come from the future.	Read review
GameSpot	Steve Watts	8 / 10	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig takes everything that was fantastic about the retro platformer and recontextualizes it into a roguelike that’s hard to put down.	Read review
GameXplain	Thomas Arnold	Recommended	09-22-2022	Video Review	Read review
GamingBolt	Shunal Doke	9 / 10	09-23-2022	Shovel Knight Dig, while far from being the furthest departure from the franchise’s classic gameplay, still manages to be a unique experience thanks to the unique twist of having to use a platforming move set to make progress by traversing vertical space. The Shovel Knight gameplay is still as crisp as ever, and Shovel Knight Dig’s story and progression systems do a great job of staying out of the way, and ultimately encouraging you to try one more run.	Read review
God is a Geek	Lyle Carr	9 / 10	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig is the perfect first roguelike, packed full of that tasty Shovel Knight gameplay we all know and love.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Josh Speer	4.5 / 5 stars	09-22-2022	Small complaints aside, Shovel Knight Dig is still a fantastic game. It deftly mixes Shovel Knight mechanics with rogue-like elements, to create a game that’s more than the sum of its parts. While the difficulty level can feel a bit overwhelming, and may deter some gamers, this is still an entry any fan of the series will find themselves loving. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to burrow into this exciting new adventure from Yacht Club Games!	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Alberto Lloret	86 / 100	09-22-2022	Shovel Knigh Dig is another success in the universe of the knight of the shovel, a roguelite that, without moving too far from the formula of the genre and what has been seen in other games of the character, manages to give it a spin to make it feel somewhat fresh. And he succeeds. Guaranteed fun for lovers of the most agile and casual roguelite.	Read review
IGN	Mitchell Saltzman	8 / 10	09-23-2022	Shovel Knight Dig is a wonderful melding of the mechanics and feel of Shovel Knight and the ever evolving roguelite genre. It stumbles a bit on its roguelite progression mechanics, and its a bit on the short side, but none of that stops Shovel Knight Dig from being a blast to play.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Mitch Vogel	9 / 10	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig is another triumphant and enjoyable entry in the popular indie knight’s growing legacy, offering up thrilling, challenging gameplay that will appeal to fans both old and new. Though it may be a little on the short side, every minute of Shovel Knight Dig positively oozes quality, whether that be the snappy action-platforming or the fresh 16-bit art style and animation. We’d give this one a high recommendation to anyone who enjoyed the original platformers or to anyone looking for a tough (but not offputtingly tough) new roguelite. Shovel Knight Dig has got it where it counts and can stand tall beside its noble predecessors.	Read review
PC Invasion	Andrew Farrell	8 / 10	09-22-2022	While not packed with content, Shovel Knight Dig is rich in quality. Charming pixel artwork combined with excellent level chunks and tight gameplay make it well worth the hours spent.	Read review
Saving Content	Scott Ellison II	4 / 5 stars	09-23-2022	Shovel Knight Dig is an absolute treasure to behold, the visuals are so colorful and vibrant, and the soundtrack is equally as bubbly. It’s a wonderful addition to the lore of Shovel Knight without being clumsy or overwrought. It’s a roguelike doesn’t feel like one, and isn’t a slog to get to the good stuff, as every run is an exciting escapade. You won’t have to dig too deep to find the fun, because Shovel Knight Dig is a worthwhile adventure that feels like an evolution of the series for another reason to adore it.	Read review
Shacknews	Ozzie Mejia	7 / 10	09-22-2022	I had hoped that Dig would be an adventure on par with the original Shovel Knight, but instead, it feels like every bit the spin-off and side story that it is. It’s certainly not a bad game, but fans for hoping for a more substantial adventure will have to dig a little deeper.	Read review
TechRaptor	Austin Suther	9 / 10	09-22-2022	Nitrome and Yacht Club Games’ collaboration makes for the best looking (and sounding) Shovel Knight game yet. Rock solid, tight controls and fun roguelite mechanics make this a must play for any fan of the genre.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	8.5 / 10	09-22-2022	Shovel Knight Dig is a great Downwell-esque roguelike adaptation of the franchise’s formula, though its somewhat unfair steep difficulty curve can be a bit irritating at times.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

When Drill Knight and his dastardly digging crew blast apart Shovel Knight’s peaceful campsite and steal his loot, he grabs his trusty Shovel Blade and starts tunnelling after them! Meet new friends and foes, visit strange lands, and outfit yourself in your quest to keep the entire land from collapsing underfoot! Jump, slash, and dig your way down an ever-changing chasm of mystery in Shovel Knight Dig, an all-new Shovel Knight adventure!

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