A love letter to 8-bit platforming with thoroughly modern polish. Each campaign plays differently, from the steadfast knight to the bouncing beetle, and the level design stays exemplary. Tough but always fair, it's an instant classic of the genre.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer2 players7+
Co-op
Description
The Shovel Knight quests, spade in hand, to find his beloved and face the Enchantress. Published by Yacht Club Games, released worldwide in 2017. A collection of every campaign, bouncy platforming, memorable bosses and a polished 8-bit style.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Jake Kaufman pushes NES-style chiptune to its limits: heroic melodies, nostalgic ballads and catchy boss themes ring out like a golden age that never quite existed. Each knight gets a distinct musical identity, and the melodic writing sidesteps the trap of mere imitation. It's a soundtrack proving the 8-bit sound chip still had treasures left to reveal.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
It all starts with the shovel bounce, a clear nod to DuckTales: a simple mechanic, yet so flawlessly precise it anchors level design that's demanding and always fair. Gathering several campaigns with distinct mechanics under one roof multiplies the fun without diluting the rigor. A few side chapters feel uneven, but the generosity never lets up.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Leaping, pogo-bouncing your shovel onto foes, and springing back instantly recalls platforming's golden age, only sharper. The 8-bit charm dresses up impeccably precise level design, where every fight and jump rings true. The sheer generosity of content, with its multiple campaigns, turns a retro tribute into a sprawling adventure you savor for ages.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,4 GB📅03/03/2017
Published by Yacht Club Games
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
The Order of No Quarter delivers a gallery of duels worthy of the 8-bit greats: each knight unveils a clear mechanical theme, a pattern to learn and a nastier rematch later on. Shovel-bouncing, reading rhythms and improvising make for fights that are readable, demanding and bursting with character.
An underrated gem
Beneath its retro pixels, this shovel-swinging quest hides wild generosity: every campaign in one place, each reinventing the hero with its own mechanics and bosses. Its humble 8-bit dress made it look like just another homage. Yet it's the tight platforming and witty writing that make it worth diving back into, especially if you love demanding classics.
Better with friends
Bringing a companion along for the whole campaign gives the adventure a warm, good-natured flavour. The cooperation stays easy to grasp, true to its retro charm, and you progress shoulder to shoulder without anyone ever feeling left behind. Easy to share, even with a less gamey friend or relative, it relaunches in seconds and turns each stage into a small two-player challenge savoured at your own pace.
Is Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove still worth playing in 2026?
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the culmination of a remarkable project: a single box gathering every campaign, each with its own mechanics. The shovel pogo bounce, an open homage to DuckTales, stays flawlessly precise, and the deliberately cheated 8-bit pixel art is a model of elegance. Far from a mere nostalgia exercise, this collection delivers level design that rivals its inspirations. A few side campaigns are more uneven, but together they offer dozens of hours of rare, generous platforming that still holds up today.
