SHOVELBOY is a game developed by LGV that falls under the adventure subcategory of games. It is a retro-style platformer that offers 21 pre-defined levels that increase in difficulty. The objective of the game is to collect shovels in each level, which allows you to dig to the next level. You start with three lives and can lose them by falling into spikes or getting hit by one of the enemies.

The game offers two modes: HARD and EASY. In EASY mode, you can continue your run after losing all three lives. In HARD mode, you have to start from the beginning. SHOVELBOY also has a built-in timer and a speedrun leaderboard. The game features a double jump ability and five types of platforms, including solid, glass break, rectangular, vertical, and horizontal movement. You will encounter three types of enemies, including random movement, fixed shooter, and player follower.