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Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows

Review · Arcade · PC · PlayStation 3 · Xbox One

Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows

Reviewed: 05 May 2026

PC · PlayStation 3 · Xbox One · Wii U · macOS · Nintendo 3DS

Yacht Club Games · 2015

Ludograph rating

B

Good

65 /100

Automated review

Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows is an arcade game that builds problem solving and strategic thinking through engaging platforming challenges.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 52 · R 12
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

52

Risk (RIS)

12

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.52
B2Social-emotional
0.10
B3Motor
0.55

Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows offers engaging platforming challenges that require careful problem-solving, strategic thinking, and precise motor control. Players will develop hand-eye coordination and reaction time as they navigate complex environments and combat various enemies. The game encourages learning through trial and error, adapting to new mechanics and enemy patterns.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.10
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The primary risks are minimal. The game contains mild cartoon violence, typical of the arcade genre, with no real-world implications. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or significant compulsion-loop design tactics.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.00

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

ReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows a rating of 65/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows?

Our session recommendation for Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows?

The primary risks are minimal. The game contains mild cartoon violence, typical of the arcade genre, with no real-world implications. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or significant compulsion-loop design tactics.