Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action-adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, lovable bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you!
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Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment on Steam
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Take control of Specter Knight, servant to the Enchantress, in a quest to recruit a cadre of knights and create the Order of No Quarter. Experience perfect platforming, world-class visuals, impeccable stage design, incredible music, and even meet a friend or two in Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment!
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is a action, indie and adventure game
developed and published by Yacht Club Games.
Released on April 05th 2017 is available on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Steam Deck and Steam Machine
in 11 languages: English, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, French, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.
It has received 452 reviews of which 425 were positive and 27 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for 5.05€ on Eneba.
The Steam community has classified Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment into these genres:
Action
Indie
Adventure
Platformer
Pixel Graphics
2D
Retro
Singleplayer
Great Soundtrack
Side Scroller
Metroidvania
Difficult
Here is the detailed breakdown of supported languages for Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment:
| UI | Subtitle | Audio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | |||
| German | |||
| French | |||
| Italian | |||
| Korean | |||
| Spanish - Spain | |||
| Simplified Chinese | |||
| Traditional Chinese | |||
| Russian | |||
| Japanese | |||
| Portuguese - Brazil |
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment through various videos and screenshots.
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7 or later
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1 ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 2nd Generation Intel Core HD Graphics (2000/3000), 512MB
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 250 MB available space
MacOS
- OS: Compatible up to 10.15.17 Catalina
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 2nd Generation Intel Core HD Graphics (2000/3000), 512MB
- Storage: 250 MB available space
Linux
- OS: Ubuntu 12.04 or newer
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1 ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 2nd Generation Intel Core HD Graphics (2000/3000), 512MB
- Storage: 250 MB available space
Steam Price & Best Deals
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is an action-platformer developed and published by Yacht Club Games that serves as a prequel to the beloved Shovel Knight saga. While many prequels rely heavily on familiar content, this campaign takes a far more ambitious approach by completely reimagining how the game is played. Instead of simply revisiting existing locations from a different perspective, it introduces a new protagonist, unique movement mechanics, fresh level designs, and a darker narrative that adds significant depth to the series' lore. The result is an adventure that feels both familiar and entirely new, standing confidently as one of the strongest entries in the franchise. The story focuses on Specter Knight before he became the feared servant of the Enchantress seen in the original game. Once known by another identity, he finds himself bound to a dark mission that requires recruiting the members of the Order of No Quarter. Throughout this journey, players witness the events that shaped his transformation and learn the tragic circumstances behind his loyalty to the Enchantress. The narrative successfully balances melancholy themes with the charm and humor that define the Shovel Knight universe. As the story unfolds, Specter Knight becomes far more than a mysterious villain, emerging as one of the franchise's most compelling and sympathetic characters. The most significant difference from previous campaigns lies in the movement system. Specter Knight is remarkably agile, capable of scaling walls, chaining attacks through enemies, and launching himself across stages with incredible speed. His signature dash slash ability transforms both combat and platforming into a fluid, acrobatic experience. Rather than cautiously navigating obstacles, players are encouraged to maintain momentum and flow through environments with precision and confidence. Once mastered, the controls create a sense of freedom that few platformers can match. This mobility fundamentally shapes the level design. Every stage is constructed around Specter Knight's unique abilities, resulting in levels that feel entirely different from those found in the original Shovel Knight campaign. Obstacles are designed to encourage continuous movement, rewarding players who can combine attacks, wall climbs, and dashes into seamless sequences. The stages consistently introduce new ideas without overwhelming the player, ensuring that the gameplay remains engaging from beginning to end. Few platformers demonstrate such a strong connection between character abilities and environmental design. Combat benefits enormously from the protagonist's speed and versatility. Battles are fast, responsive, and satisfying, allowing players to attack enemies while maintaining constant momentum. Specter Knight's scythe serves as a versatile weapon that complements his mobility perfectly, while various special relics expand the range of tactical options available. These abilities add diversity to encounters and provide useful tools for both combat and exploration. The game's combat system remains accessible while offering enough depth to reward skilled players. Boss encounters are among the campaign's greatest highlights. Many of the adversaries are familiar faces from the broader Shovel Knight universe, but seeing them during an earlier period of the timeline adds fresh context to their roles. Each battle is carefully designed to test different aspects of Specter Knight's abilities, requiring players to make full use of their mobility and reflexes. The encounters are challenging without becoming frustrating, striking an excellent balance between spectacle and gameplay. Visually, Specter of Torment showcases some of the finest pixel art in modern gaming. Yacht Club Games demonstrates an extraordinary understanding of classic 8-bit aesthetics while incorporating animation quality and environmental detail far beyond what was possible during that era. Every stage features distinct visual themes, vibrant colors, and memorable character designs. The retro presentation never feels like mere nostalgia; instead, it serves as a foundation for artwork that remains impressive even by contemporary standards. The soundtrack deserves equal recognition. Featuring a collection of energetic, dramatic, and emotional compositions, the music perfectly complements the game's darker atmosphere. The soundtrack successfully captures both the excitement of fast-paced platforming and the tragedy of Specter Knight's story. Each area is enhanced by memorable themes that linger long after the game is finished, reinforcing the campaign's emotional impact. Replay value is another area where the game excels. Optional objectives, hidden collectibles, challenge stages, and achievements encourage multiple playthroughs. Players who enjoy mastering movement systems will find countless opportunities to refine their skills and improve completion times. The fluidity of Specter Knight's controls makes replaying levels genuinely enjoyable, as mastery opens new possibilities for navigating environments more efficiently and creatively. The campaign is not entirely without flaws. The increased emphasis on speed and precision may prove intimidating for some newcomers, especially those more comfortable with the slower pacing of traditional platformers. Certain challenge sections require careful execution and can demand multiple attempts. However, the game's responsive controls and fair design ensure that failure rarely feels unfair. Instead, each setback becomes an opportunity to improve and better understand the mechanics. What truly sets Specter of Torment apart is how successfully it transforms an established antagonist into a fascinating protagonist. The campaign enriches the broader Shovel Knight universe while delivering gameplay that feels distinct enough to stand on its own. It demonstrates how a spin-off can expand a franchise without sacrificing quality or originality. Every aspect of the experience, from its storytelling and level design to its combat and presentation, reflects an exceptional level of craftsmanship. Ultimately, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is far more than a supplemental campaign. It is a masterfully designed platforming adventure that combines exhilarating movement, outstanding level design, memorable characters, and emotional storytelling into one cohesive package. By reinventing the core mechanics while preserving the spirit of the original game, Yacht Club Games created a prequel that rivals the best entries in the genre. For fans of action-platformers, it remains an essential experience and one of the finest examples of modern retro game design. Rating: 9/10
Specter of Torment is a fantastic addition to the Shovel Knight series — the movement mechanics feel incredibly fluid once it clicks, and using your scythe to grind rails and skate into enemies never gets old. The music is an absolute banger and the story adds surprising depth to a character I didn't expect to care about this much. It's a bit shorter than the original campaign, but the tighter, more focused design more than makes up for it, and New Game+ will absolutely humble you if you think you've mastered it. One heads-up: if you already own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, this is included for free, so check before buying — though honestly, if you love the series, supporting the devs isn't the worst thing. Highly recommended for any fan of tight, challenging 2D platformers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
No, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.99€ on Steam.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment received 425 positive votes out of a total of 452 achieving a rating of 8.70.
😎
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment was developed and published by Yacht Club Games.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is playable and fully supported on Linux.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is playable on Steam Deck, though it might require a few minor tweaks. Make sure to check the Steam store page and community feedback on ProtonDB for exact compatibility details.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is playable on Steam Machine, though it might require a few minor tweaks. Make sure to check the Steam store page and community feedback on ProtonDB for exact compatibility details.
No, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment does not support VR.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is a single-player game.
No, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment does not currently offer any DLC.
No, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment supports Remote Play on Phone, Remote Play on Tablet, Remote Play on TV and Remote Play Together. Discover more about Steam Remote Play.
Yes, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 26 September 2026 05:01 UTC |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 22 October 2026 09:45 UTC |
| Steam price | 28 October 2026 03:58 UTC |
| Steam reviews | 20 October 2026 10:07 UTC |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment compatibility
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Game modes
Features
Online players
2
Developer
Yacht Club Games
Publisher
Yacht Club Games
Release
05 Apr 2017
Platforms
Remote Play
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