Shovel Knight Dig is a 2D side-scrolling and action-adventure game that takes the beloved titular character and puts him into a new adventure. When Drill Knight and his crew disrupt our hero's peaceful campsite and steal his loot, he grabs his Shovel Blade and digs down into a mysterious, shifting chasm.

Shovel Knight Dig features an all-new presentation, with even better ‘high-color pixel graphics’ and new sound bites for its music and effects. The game also has more fluid animation, scaling, character rotation, and parallax effects. Its 2D charm is still here, but with more refined physics and better side-scrolling implementation.

An unpredictable run every time

One of the key features of Shovel Knight Dig is its procedural level design. While levels are meticulously crafted, they are stitched together using proprietary generation techniques, ensuring every adventure offers a unique layout and challenges. It also introduces a new direction for gameplay: down. You can rely on Shovel Knight's trusty Shovel Drop and utilize new Speed Shovel mechanics to dig through large sections of dirt. 

The game is populated with new knights, characters, and enemies, while retaining the signature storytelling, humor, and familiar faces that the series fans have come to expect. The game has two DLC expansions: Wicked Wishes introduces quests, new relics, mini-games, accessories, and gameplay enhancements within Hoofman's Adventurer's Guild. Fate and Fortune adds Knightmare Mode, featuring Black Knight, and introduces Fetcher, a new character who allows you to exit the well mid-run.

The DLC also includes Mementos, collectible keepsakes that decorate the HUB, and a new music track, "Hexcadecimate." While there are some good changes and additions, some players, especially the fans of the previous games, might prefer the original level design instead of just digging down. While the levels themselves are still made by actual people, the procedural generation can lead to repeated level layouts, broken sections, and glitched areas.

Dig down and discover this treasure of a game

Shovel Knight Dig offers a fresh and exciting take on the Shovel Knight formula, combining the series' beloved characters and gameplay with procedural level design and a new downward direction. While it has some problems with its current style and procedural generation implementation, its vibrant visuals, dynamic gameplay, and engaging progression system provide a compelling adventure for both new and returning fans.