The WhatsNext verdict
King of Cards is a superb send-off for Shovel Knight’s platforming, with brilliant movement, inventive stages, and music that sticks. Play it if you want polished retro action and can tolerate an optional card game and a deliberately obnoxious hero.
What it does best
A tiny moveset creates extraordinary platforming flow
A soundtrack with instant 8-bit earworm power
Retro design refined to an almost effortless finish
Joustus turns card placement into clever spatial puzzles
What might put you off
Joustus can feel underexplained and less compelling than the platforming
Shorter, sometimes samey stages and an abrasive protagonist
Look
Peek inside
The setup
What you are walking into
This game is the final free campaign included in the main game, Shovel Knight, and its updated title, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove. The game will also be available as a standalone title on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
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