The latest entry in the Shovel Knight series is coming soon, but Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon will be far different from any of the previous games starring the shovel-wielding hero. Of course, Shovel Knight himself is no stranger to appearing in new game genres. The character is prolific at this point, and Shovel Knight has appeared as a costume or guest character, a platform fighter in the form of Shovel Knight Showdown, and an upcoming dungeon crawler called Shovel Knight Dig.
Add Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon then to the ever-growing list of games set in the Shovel Knight universe. First announced in 2020, the game is currently scheduled to release this holiday, and thanks to a new Nintendo Indie Showcase which announced numerous new indie games coming to Switch, players have even more details on what to expect from the upcoming title.
In short, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon doesn't look like any other Shovel Knight game before it. Described as a "puzzle-adventure mashup like none other," the game looks to break new ground and push the series into uncharted genre territory. Here's how Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon will set itself apart from other games in the series, while still staying true to its origins.
What Makes Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Different
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a roguelite dungeon crawler, but it's also a block-falling match-puzzle game. Rooms of the dungeon are block-falling puzzles and are partially procedurally generated, with a player's character of choice able to move around and manipulate pieces. Players can battle enemies by colliding with them to deal damage, or group enemies together and cause blocks to fall for chain attacks, all the while collecting gems, keys, power-ups, potions, and more. Gameplay, at least from what has been shown so far, looks frantic and exciting.
It's a far cry from the side-scrolling platforming of the original Shovel Knight, but there's plenty of shared DNA between the two games as well. Shovel Knight's style and sense of humor are present, and Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon will sport a number of characters fans will likely recognize. There is, of course, Shovel Knight himself, along with Plague Knight, King Knight, Shield Knight, and others. Each playable character comes with a unique power and playstyle. Like in Shovel Knight proper, players can visit the shop in Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon to acquire new items and equipment to overcome the game's challenges. There will even be boss battles against foes both old and new.
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Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon looks to be a primarily single-player game, but like Shovel Knight before it, will feature a two-player mode, in this case so players can go head-to-head. It also features supports Shovel Knight amiibo, which grants a fairy companion that may be familiar to fans of the series. Shovel Knight composer Jake Kaufman will also be returning to provide new music.
All in all, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon takes many of the characters and trappings of Shovel Knight proper, but places them in a genre-bending puzzle game that truly sounds unlike anything players have experienced before. The game is set to release for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 this holiday.