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Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

Review · Action · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · macOS

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

Reviewed: 17 May 2026

PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · macOS · PC · Xbox One

Yacht Club Games · 2021

Ludograph rating

B

Good

59 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 43 · R 4
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

43

Risk (RIS)

4

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.68
B2Social-emotional
0.03
B3Motor
0.40

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon offers significant cognitive benefits through its unique puzzle-action gameplay, fostering strong problem-solving, strategic thinking, spatial awareness, and critical thinking skills. Players must constantly adapt their strategies, manage resources, and make quick decisions in a dynamic environment. The game also provides moderate motor skill development, particularly in hand-eye coordination and reaction time, due to its fast-paced combat and puzzle mechanics.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.07
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.06

The game presents very low risks. There are no microtransactions, loot boxes, or subscriptions, eliminating monetization pressure. Social risks are minimal, with no stranger chat and only a competitive versus mode that is unlikely to foster significant toxicity. Content risks are also low, featuring only cartoonish violence typical of the Shovel Knight series.

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.

Avg playtime~2 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon a rating of 59/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon appropriate for?

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

How long should kids play Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon?

Our session recommendation for Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon 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 Pocket Dungeon?

The game presents very low risks. There are no microtransactions, loot boxes, or subscriptions, eliminating monetization pressure. Social risks are minimal, with no stranger chat and only a competitive versus mode that is unlikely to foster significant toxicity. Content risks are also low, featuring only cartoonish violence typical of the Shovel Knight series.