Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 85 | 36 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 316 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 119 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 10, 2025) · 119 reviews sampled · 75 total reviews in window · weighted 49.6 up / 2.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (41)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a smartly designed and truly delightful revitalization of the falling block puzzle genre. High intensity, combat-driven gameplay, oodles of replayability, a cute art style, and a surprising amount of depth make this one a ridiculously easy recommendation. If you're at all a fan of Shovel Knight or falling block puzzlers, you owe it to yourself to give this a shot; even if you don't fall neatly into either of those camps, we'd still very much suggest you give this one a look.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Pocket Dungeon understands puzzle spinoffs in the same way that the original Shovel Knight and all of its DLC understands classic platformers from the NES. While its title is fittingly suggestive of just how small the whole game is, I have a feeling I'll be coming back for months until I move on to my next roguelike obsession.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“Original, brilliantly designed, varied, challenging, and loads of fun the Shovel Knight series has shaken up the action puzzler genre nicely”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It's a puzzle game, it's an action game, it's a rogue-lite, and it does all three of those very well. It might not be bursting with content, but this is an extremely unique, captivating experience that's sure to have players eager for just one more go.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There’s not significant variety across these extra modes, and no online multiplayer is unfortunate, though when the core gameplay is this good, it's not a major detractor. Yacht Club Games and VINE ultimately provide an excellent puzzle spin-off, one that’s accessible for all players that'll appeal to existing fans. You won’t necessarily be here for a long time, but it’s an addictive experience that’ll keep you coming back for more.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Much like the inspiration, it's challenging, but it's also forgiving enough to not dissuade frustrated players. I didn't think I'd see the day when someone did Wario's Woods as a conceptual idea justice, but dang, they did it. Pocket Dungeon is incredible.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon ticks all sorts of boxes. It is absolutely a puzzle game. You need to deal with falling “blocks” in a timely fashion. It also feels like an action-RPG. You need to consider your health, your equipment, and the amount of damage you’ll take. Roguelike elements come up too, due to being kicked back to camp when you die and opportunities to unlock relics for future runs.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon relishes in the idea of punishing you. The roguelike nature and quick action puzzle elements can feel overwhelming, and it'll feel like a miracle when you beat the game for the first time. The solid mechanics are enough to keep you coming back, and the bevy of unlockable characters makes this similar enough to the original Shovel Knight in that the content will seem endless. For fans of unusual puzzles and Shovel Knight, Pocket Dungeon is perfect for you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A microsurgical blending of genres results in a lovely balance of precision and chaos.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon combines familiar tile-matching puzzle mechanics with rogue-lite elements to make one of the best puzzlers in years.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is the new spin-off adventure by Yacht Club Games involving puzzling your way through a rogue-lite world. It looks and sounds great while offering a variety of fast and challenging gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It’s brilliant how crazy you can make this Pocket Dungeon, and it gives me a proud joy to say that this puzzler was easily the biggest sleeper hit of the year: despite being tough to explain, it just has a flow that is silky smooth!”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
Nindie Spotlight
PC Invasion
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Siliconera
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot
Guide Fall
Seafoam Gaming…and 29 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- The Online Beta has Concluded!Jul 16, 2025
- "EP. 12.14" - Addressing Player Feedback, and Bug Fixes!Jul 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Quick Updates and Bug Fixes for "EP 12.14"Jul 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Version 4.0.0 - Pals Pack Release and Online Beta!Jul 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Pals Pack Free DLC is avaialble for Early Preview!Sep 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Version 3.0.4 Update NotesSep 11, 2024
- Small patch updateAug 22, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Version 3.0.2 Update - Quick FixesAug 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Paradox Pack DLC is Out!Aug 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Early Preview Branch - EP 11 - Paradox Pack Early Preview!Oct 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Version 2.0.3 Fix-Travaganza Update now Live!Jul 5, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Version 2.0.2 - More Fixes!Jun 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free Update - EP.10.2 - “Wow, so much stuff!” Patch Out NowApr 25, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP9 and EP10 - Final Early Preview for v2.0.0Apr 7, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP8 (Happy Valentine's Day Edition!)Feb 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP7 v2.0.0 (Happy Anniversary Edition!)Dec 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP6 v2.0.0Nov 18, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP5.1Oct 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP5 v2.0.0Oct 14, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP4 v2.0.0Oct 4, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP3Aug 12, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Puzzler's Pack Free DLC Update EP2Jul 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.1.3 Small April UpdateApr 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.1.2 (Hotfix)Mar 22, 2022
- March 1.1.1 HotfixMar 18, 2022
- 1.1.0 March patch - New options, features, balance adjustments, and bug fixesMar 12, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- December 17th, 2021 - Patch - 1.0.3Dec 18, 2021significant · resets scoring window