Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove similar games & best alternatives

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita • 2014

Should you play it?

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the complete Shovel Knight collection, containing all 5 games in the epic saga! Dig, blast, slash, and bash your way through a fantastical, 8-bit inspired world of pixel-perfect platforming, memorable characters, and world-class action-adventure gameplay.

What works
  • Tight and responsive controls
  • Challenging but fair difficulty
  • Multiple unique campaigns
  • Excellent pixel art and soundtrack
  • Free content updates and dlc
Things to keep in mind
  • Some difficulty spikes
  • Checkpoint and gold recovery system can be frustrating
  • Multiplayer modes less developed
  • Some repetitive level elements across campaigns
  • Shorter game length per campaign

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Dungreed

  • Caveblazers

  • Voidigo

  • Planet Centauri

  • Super Time Force Ultra

  • Serious Sam 4

  • Welcome To The Dark Place

  • Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

  • Turbo Kid

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Welcome To The Dark Place

  • Turbo Kid

  • Sonny Legacy Collection

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Progression

    Knightmare Tower

  • Autonomy

    Mana Spark

  • Competence

    Gunman Clive

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players can choose from multiple characters with unique playstyles and decide on item and upgrade combinations, allowing for personal control over gameplay approach."

    Capsule for Mana Spark Mana Spark

    "Players can choose among multiple characters with unique mechanics and decide their own approach to levels and upgrades."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game features challenging platforming and boss fights requiring skill, timing, and pattern recognition, with achievements rewarding mastery."

    Capsule for Gunman Clive Gunman Clive

    "The game offers challenging platforming and boss fights requiring skill mastery and pattern recognition."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progress and completion rather than competing against others; multiplayer modes are casual and limited."

    Capsule for de Blob de Blob

    "Focus is on individual progression and personal skill rather than direct competition; multiplayer modes exist but are secondary."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report high replayability with new game+ modes, challenge runs, and experimentation with abilities; many played multiple times and enjoyed extended engagement."

    Capsule for Gravity Circuit Gravity Circuit

    "Players report high replayability with multiple campaigns, New Game+ modes, and challenges encouraging habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    1

    "Local co-op is available but limited; most gameplay is single-player focused."

    Capsule for We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie

    "Local co-op available in main campaign, but overall gameplay is primarily single-player focused."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players can customize characters extensively and experiment with different builds and party compositions."

    Capsule for Pillars of Eternity Pillars of Eternity

    "Players can customize bombs, choose upgrades, and explore different playstyles with four distinct characters."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions emphasize balanced challenge and mutual respect; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk."

    Capsule for Catacomb Kids Catacomb Kids

    "Interactions emphasize fair challenge and mutual respect; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong nostalgic and immersive retro experience provides escape from real life."

    Capsule for Oniken: Unstoppable Edition Oniken: Unstoppable Edition

    "Strong nostalgic appeal and immersive retro world provide an escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation."

    Capsule for 暖雪 Warm Snow 暖雪 Warm Snow

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying different characters, item combinations, and artifacts to discover new strategies."

    Capsule for Risk of Rain (2013) Risk of Rain (2013)

    "Multiple characters with unique mechanics and customizable items encourage experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Levels contain secrets, collectibles, and hidden areas rewarding curiosity."

    Capsule for Frogun Frogun

    "Levels contain secrets, collectibles, and hidden areas rewarding curiosity and discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Players can customize character classes and appearances including gender and skins, allowing personal expression."

    Capsule for Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3

    "Players can customize character appearance with gender swaps and modify gameplay with cheat codes."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "The game features a fantasy setting with magic, kingdoms, and mythical elements, providing imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for The Advisor - Episode 1: Royal Pain The Advisor - Episode 1: Royal Pain

    "The game features a fictional fantasy world with knights, magic, and imaginative characters."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some community interaction through multiplayer and shared experiences, but primarily single-player."

    Capsule for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

    "Some community interaction through multiplayer and shared achievements, but primarily single-player."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills with new mechanics, learn boss patterns, and improve through gameplay progression."

    Capsule for Blaster Master Zero 2 Blaster Master Zero 2

    "Players develop skills, learn boss patterns, and improve through challenges and New Game+ modes."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Colt Canyon Colt Canyon

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and precise input; not suited for idle or background play."

    Capsule for Out There Somewhere Out There Somewhere

    "Requires focused attention and precise input; not suited for idle or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; gameplay is solitary with limited emotional or close social connections."

    Capsule for Sea Power : Naval Combat in the Missile Age Sea Power : Naval Combat in the Missile Age

    "Minimal social interaction; gameplay is mostly solitary."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -4

    "No evidence of leadership roles; players act independently or cooperatively without hierarchy."

    Capsule for My Garage My Garage

    "No evidence of leadership roles; players act independently or cooperatively without hierarchy."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong focus on accumulating gold and upgrades to improve character and abilities."

    Capsule for Knightmare Tower Knightmare Tower

    "Strong focus on collecting gold, upgrading abilities, unlocking new items, and completing achievements."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "While challenging, the game balances difficulty to avoid frustration, providing moments of flow and satisfaction."

    Capsule for Earthion Earthion

    "Challenging gameplay creates tension but fair design balances frustration and flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and catchy chiptune soundtrack provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Kero Blaster Kero Blaster

    "Vibrant pixel art and catchy chiptune soundtrack provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "Achievements and leaderboards exist but social recognition is not a primary motivator."

    Capsule for Rise of the Tomb Raider™ Rise of the Tomb Raider™

    "Achievements and leaderboards exist but social recognition is not a primary motivator."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Narrative is simple and light but present with campaign progression and comic-style cutscenes."

    Capsule for Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

    "Narrative is simple but charming with memorable characters and multiple campaigns expanding lore."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players must plan positioning, power-up use, and boss attack patterns to succeed."

    Capsule for Shooting Stars! Shooting Stars!

    "Players must plan attacks, use relics strategically, and master boss patterns."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Platforming hazards and boss fights create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls

    "Platforming hazards and boss fights create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel the game offers excellent value for time and money, including free DLC content."

    Capsule for Sea of Stars Sea of Stars

    "Players praise the amount of content and free DLC as excellent value for money."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with shovel and magic attacks."

    Capsule for Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope

    "Combat involves defeating enemies with shovel strikes and bombs; stylized and non-gratuitous."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid hazards and manage health to progress through dangerous environments."

    Capsule for Shovel Knight Dig Shovel Knight Dig

    "Players must avoid death by managing health and navigating hazards carefully."

Last update: 01/06/2026