For more on Shovel Knight, check out our full Shovel Knight review. Or, for more of the best Nintendo Wii U games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Shovel Knight is retro-themed, pixel art platforming action-adventure game, which pits you as the titular Shovel Knight, on a quest to save his beloved Shield Knight from the evil Enchantress.
You make your way through the 2D, side scrolling levels dodging obstacles, collecting treasure, and defeating other medieval type enemies such as rats and knights with your mighty shovel. With a similar style of gameplay to the 2D Mario games, only much harder, it's nonetheless a style of play that should be familiar to anyone who's played a platformer before. At the end of each level, you'll face a tougher boss battle against one of the villainous knights from 'The Order of No Quarter'. There are also many different items to collect, and secret areas to explore, hidden behind suspicious cracks in walls. As you progress through the game, you also collect gold which can be used for health, magic, weapon, and armour upgrades, which do make the levels easier - although if you keep dying, you likely won't end up having all that much gold when you reach the end of the level.
Shovel Knight is by no means an easy game. Moulded on the type of games that were available in the 80's and early 90's, before accessibility was a key factor in games, the control system is very precise and unforgiving, which a huge emphasis on timing, whether it's timing whacking an enemy, or making a pixel perfect leap over a pit of spikes. There's a lot of trial and error, and a lot of practice required, as it's hugely important to learn the timings and how to defeat enemies for the best. Thankfully, there are a series of checkpoints throughout the levels, so you don't need to start the level from the very beginning, but this is still a game that younger kids may find too unforgiving.
With no swearing, bad language, sex, or violence to speak about, there's nothing for parents to be concerned about in Shovel Knight. About as bad as it gets is your character, the Shovel Knight, whacking enemies with his shovel - but as there's no blood, and no real sign of impact in the pixellated graphics, it's nothing to worry about at all.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Nintendo Wii U
