Shovel Knight Dig
Last updated: 2026-02-12
- Charming style and music
- Beautiful and polished graphics
- Fun and challenging bosses
- High difficulty and unfair mechanics
- Repetitive gameplay mechanics
- High price, low content
Emotions
Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of content, high difficulty, and repetitive gameplay. Many also express that the game did not meet their expectations, particularly in comparison to previous Shovel Knight games, and feel that the price does not justify the length and replay value.
Frustration stems from difficult and sometimes unfair game mechanics, including hitbox issues, unfair enemy patterns, and lack of a normal save mechanism. Players also find the game's structure and design frustrating, with repetitive gameplay and high difficulty contributing to a sense of unfairness and lack of control.
Players enjoy the gameplay mechanics, design, and overall experience, highlighting fun platforming, tight controls, and enjoyable sounds and sights. The game's charming visuals, excellent music, and balanced difficulty also contribute to a positive experience.
Satisfaction comes from the game's core gameplay, graphics, music, and overall experience. Players appreciate the art style, characters, and the opportunity to further explore the game's world.
Joy is derived from the game's style, charm, and enjoyable gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the beautiful graphics, great soundtrack, and charming character interactions.
Verdict
Mostly negative
Summary
Positive 50% · Negative 50%. Score: 50 / 100
Verdict
Seamless
Summary
The overall user feedback for the Steam Deck experience with the game is highly positive. Users appreciate the precise controls, smooth performance, and compatibility with Linux. The gameplay is enjoyable and provides significant entertainment value, making it a great experience for Steam Deck owners. Score: 10 / 100
Top points
- Positive Experience - Positive
- Gameplay Enjoyment - Positive
Positives:
- The game's style, charm, and music are highlighted as standout features. Players enjoy the animations, presentation, and overall aesthetic.
- The game's graphics are frequently praised as beautiful, top-notch, and stunning. Players appreciate the pixel art and visual aesthetic.
- Players consistently describe the game as very enjoyable, fun, and addicting. Many recommend it highly, indicating a positive reception.
- The game is praised as a very fun and well-made roguelike. Players enjoy the challenge and mechanics, making it a favorite among fans of the genre.
- Boss fights are highlighted as fun, intense, and epic. Players enjoy the challenge and variety offered by the bosses.
Negatives:
- The game is criticized for its high difficulty, unfair enemy patterns, and mechanics that cause frustration. Off-screen enemy hits and unclear rules add to the difficulty.
- The game quickly becomes repetitive due to lack of variety in gameplay and limited replayability. Players find the experience monotonous after a short period.
- Many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers. The game is perceived as too short and lacking in variety to justify its cost.
- There is little to no permanent progression or meaningful rewards. Unlocking new items feels grindy and upgrades are unsubstantial, leading to a lack of motivation to replay.
- The level design is frustrating and the controls feel clunky. The small viewing area and linear gameplay further limit the enjoyment and complexity of the levels.
Gameplay:
- The game features a variety of roguelike elements, including roguelite dungeons, progression systems, and upgrade mechanics. Players appreciate the roguelike structure and gameplay.
- The game includes room generation, randomized levels, and procedural generation, creating unique and varied gameplay experiences. This feature enhances replayability and exploration.
- The game is a retro-inspired roguelite platformer with tight controls and a focus on platforming mechanics. It combines classic style with modern gameplay elements.
- The game offers various difficulty adjustments and modifiers, catering to different player skill levels. This includes hardcore difficulty and permanent death mechanics.
- The game features challenging boss fights with different layouts, providing a significant test of player skills. Some players note there are few bosses but find them engaging.
Performance:
- There are notable problems with the camera and screen panning, which affect the gameplay experience negatively.
- The game is praised for its smooth performance and great optimization, leading to a positive player experience.
- Players highlight that the game works well on Steam Deck, providing a good experience for users of this device.
- While the game is generally stable, there are a few bugs reported by players, though they are not widespread.
Recommendations:
- This game is highly recommended for fans of the original Shovel Knight, especially those who enjoy challenging games and are looking for more content similar to the original.
- The game is suggested for players who enjoy roguelite elements, whether they are newcomers or veterans of the genre. It is compared favorably to other popular roguelites like Spelunky.
- Some reviewers recommend the game but suggest waiting for a sale to get it at a better price, indicating that the current price might be a bit high for some players.
- The game is recommended for those who enjoy challenging gameplay and replayability, making it a good fit for players who like to test their skills.
- Some reviewers believe the game is worth its current price, suggesting that the content and enjoyment justify the cost.
Miscellaneous:
- Players want the shop to display their currently equipped upgrades for easier comparison and management.
- There is a reported error with animations in the Smeltworks area that needs fixing.
- Players have requested the ability to skip cutscenes, likely for replayability or time-saving purposes.
- Players want a distinct musical theme for the Black Knight boss to enhance the battle experience.
- Players are positively noting the lack of Digital Rights Management, which is seen as a benefit.
