50 Best PS4 Games Right Now

Best PS4 Games #8 – Shovel Knight

Developer: Yacht Club Games

Synopsis: Keeping to the simple sensibilities of NES games, Shovel Knight follows the story of the titular character as he ventures to rescue Shield Knight from the clutches of The Order of no Quarter. Complete with gender-swap modes and alternate campaigns through DLC, players traverse the land through a mix of overworld exploration and level-based platforming action. The shovel acts as a pogo stick that you can also use to swipe at enemies. Power-ups throughout the levels add alternate, magic-using moves that improve the versatility of the protag’s skill set.

Why it’s one of the 50 best PS4 games: Shovel Knight is a love letter to classic platformers. Mixing the best parts of Ducktales, Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man and Castlevania, players can expect a wide variety of characters on levels designed and tailored to the environment. The soundtrack is a marvel, with chiptunes creating a narrative as much as the dialogue is willing to weave. Platforming efficiencies offer neat tricks to improve player speed, acting as the perfect bait for the speedrunning community as well as casual fans looking to play a contemporary game with classic sensibilities.

For a game that looks like it was released in 1989, Yacht Club Games has made a supreme effort in catching the interest of today’s audience without sacrificing the ideals.

Next: #7 - Batman: Arkham Knight