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) | – | 86 | 10 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 100 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 247 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1.4 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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.
- 70
“Its superior kineticism shows that Shovel Knight was an amateur's first stab toward something a little greater.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Specter of Torment is the latest in a fantastic series of games; it further cements Yacht Club Games's reputation as a developer capable of crafting experiences that are not only on par with, but often surpass the efforts of some of the largest studios in the world.The game's excellent level design, charming art style and top-notch soundtrack hold up as well in 2017 as they did three years ago in the original Shovel Knight. If you haven't played a Shovel Knight game before, we would highly recommend you pick up Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for your Switch instead of this, as it contains Specter of Torment as well, but if you'd rather save some cash you can't go wrong with Specter of Torment.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Specter of Torment feels like a new mode more than a sequel or an expansion, and it benefits from this. With a new story, completely new move set, and a much darker tone, it's a must-play for fans of the original release. Make sure to grab a controller, because the keyboard isn't ideal for everything Specter Knight is capable of. Congratulations, Specter Knight; you're too good for a keyboard.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“That is really my only criticism. You’ll be doing things in Specter of Torment that literally make you say “wow” out loud. It’s a smooth, expertly-crafted platformer filled with heart. Again, it’s a free update to your Wii U and 3DS versions so there’s no reason not to play it. For Switch users, it’s absolutely worth experiencing, as is the rest of the Treasure Trove.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Specter of Torment is a focused and satisfyingly challenging 2D platformer which retains Shovel Knight's strong aesthetic and sense of charm.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is everything you could want in a 2D platformer, featuring mechanics from classic games brought forward in clever ways. Specter improves upon the original Shovel Knight in most regards and continues Yacht Club Games' tradition of excellence effortlessly.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you bought Shovel Knight when it came out and loved every minute of it, Specter of Torment is a fantastic reason to return to this world and its characters. Sharp gameplay, taut worldbuilding, and brimming with personality, this is a trip to the dark side that is worth taking.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Specter of Torment is a thrilling return to form that leaves me more excited for the next chapter in the Shovel Knight saga.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is an excellent action platformer with a lot of content to enjoy and plenty of bonus challenges to endure and feats to complete. It raises the bar for the Shovel Knight series and makes me look forward to seeing what Yacht Club Games manages to do for King Knight’s campaign. Nintendo Switch owners get to enjoy Specter of Torment as a timed exclusive, so if you want to give this excellent game a try before it makes its way to other consoles, now is the time to do so!”
read full review ↗ - 82
“The Specter of Torment expansion really added to the game series with a better story and more fluid gameplay. Its not particularly long, but the fun, challenging, old-school platforming makes this a game worth playing. I would recommend buying the Treasure Trove edition with the original game and the two expansions and playing them in the order of release. It's a great package and Specter of Torment is the strongest of the set.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Put simply, Specter of Torment is absolutely brilliant. It’s a slice of classic platforming action that puts a smile on your face from beginning to end.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Specter of Torment is an outstanding prequel, independent game and expansion (all in one) despite recycling lots of assets from the original.”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
GameSpot
TechRaptor
The Game Fanatics
Play Some Video Games
PS3Blog.net
Switch Player
GameSpew
IGN…and 19 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- March 1st, 2021 Update - Mac Big Sur OS FixesMar 1, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- 4.1 - Terra FirmaFeb 19, 2020
- 4.0A - Ongoing VillainyDec 10, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- 3.3 - Crypt UpkeeperOct 5, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- 3.3 - Crypt UpkeeperOct 5, 2017