We will bounce between the four different campaigns over the next four weeks, so we may as well outline what happens in each along the way.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
What is the plot? Shovel Knight has been sitting around farming since Shield Knight was lost at the Tower of Fate. But now the Enchantress and her malevolent knights are menacing the countryside. Shovel Knight takes shovel in hand to beat back evil and maybe dig up Shield Knight’s true fate.
How does it play? Shovel Knight’s main weapon is the eponymous shovel. While this tool’s swipes are middling, its use as a pogo stick leads to all sorts of fun. Shovel Knight jumps the highest of all the knights, but also “only” has a single jump, with no additional properties, so that pogo comes in handy. Oh, and since Shovel Knight does have excavation instrument, the dirt piles that appear in every campaign only really make sense here. This is a world made for Shovel Knight, so his skills are put to excellent use throughout.
How does he get around the world? Shovel Knight has a world map with a few optional locations. By and large, there are four separate sections, and each area gets unlocked as Shovel Knight defeats more members of the Order of No Quarter. There are also occasional “roaming” warriors and bonus stages that serve no greater purpose than reminding you Super Mario Bros. 3 exists.
What is money good for? Treasure buys you random upgrades in the town areas (extra health, MP, armor, etc.), but the main reason you will ever want dough is to purchase new relics. And, fun fact, all (except two or three) relics are purchased in the actual levels, so you will need to have your wallet filled while out in the field. That said, you will likely have more gold than you will ever need by about the 75% mark.
What do you collect? Music sheets are found in mandatory and optional stages. These music sheets can be traded for cash and the ability to listen to tunes in the sound test. Music sheets appear in completely random quantities across the world, but you can check to see if you have missed any from the world map.
Care to dance? Shovel Knight can witness the majestic dance of the Troupple King, or squat along to the tunes of a lady at the juice bar. Just beat that dang Specter Knight, first!
Best Relic? Shovel Knight uses magic to activate relics, and sometimes the first one you find is the best: the Chaos Sphere bounces along and (more importantly) through your opponents, thus absolutely wrecking up the place in short order. Any opponents standing on the ground will not be standing for long.
Best Movement Relic? Going to give this one to the Phase Locket, as your temporarily invulnerability also comes with a slight aerial pause and the ability to survive spikes. That will see Shovel Knight through an awful lot of hazards.
Anything else? The random Troupples that can be fished up throughout stages are just the worst. When the Troupple King is always immediately available on the map, why would you ever enter a stage without a full stock of ichor? And waiting to fish one up only to find a completely useless critter chastising you for not having extra inventory space is terrible. These fish are bad and should feel bad!
Let’s Play Shovel Knight Treasure Trove
Night 2
January 13, 2026
Random Notes:
- It is time to put down the Enchantress with BEAT, Chromes, Caithness, Morning Song, Trynant, fanboymaster, Cassandralyn, and Caliscrub.
- We’re playing on the Playstation 5 this week so we can fight Kratos. Look at his grumpy little face!
- Please email the Dilbert man every time you have sex. No, it does not matter that he will no longer answer.
Shovel Knight is a Kickstarter game, so we must discuss Kickstarter projects like Mighty No. 9 and Shenmue… 5?- We take some time to share our most terrible family puns. This is why someone needs to put a stop to us and/or language.
- I have the worst time surviving one specific room for no reason. At least BEAT enjoys it.
- Even Worse Streams believes that smoking is terrible for you and pretty cool.
- Megs is in the chat to remind us to get YIIK’ing.
- Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope has been defeated! Moving onto Plague Knight, who will defeat Shovel Knight!
- How do you feel about your local pizza? Bagels? Pizza bagels?
- We must once again discuss the embarrassment of Jonathon Blow.
- “We believe in gooning, Lebowski.”
Let’s talk about books we hated to read in school. Now, let us never read again!- Fruit Wheats are real, and strong, and Morning Song’s oldest friend.
- And we wrap up the night after clearing out the Explodatorium and noting how Final Fantasy Type-0 is a big, fat zero.
Next trowel on Shovel Knight: A whole lot of green.