The iconic indie hero Shovel Knight might be transitioning from 2D to 3D, as Yacht Club Games is reportedly working on a brand new game in the series. It seems nostalgia is the theme of the summer, as Shovel Knight could be the latest franchise to try and reignite the fire with a new game in the series.
The first game in the series was released almost a decade ago and quickly became a fan favorite. The 2D platformer saw many highs and was critically acclaimed. However, if Yacht Club Games wants the new Shovel Knight to be a success, they need to take a page from Arrowhead’s book and follow the path of Helldivers 2.
Lessons Shovel Knight 2 Can Learn From The Success of Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 has been no less than a sensation in 2024, becoming one of the most played games. Almost a decade after Helldivers was released, Arrowhead Game Studios made a comeback with the sequel, turning the original top-down shooter game into a full-fledged third-person shooter.
Needless to say, fans will have the same expectations from the next game. The original game is considered to be one of the greatest games, and moving away from its traditional 2D style will certainly be a challenging task for Yacht Club Games.
Transitioning the game to 3D opens up a plethora of gameplay possibilities. The visual experience will certainly change, whereas puzzle-solving could become more complex, requiring players to navigate multi-layered environments. Furthermore, relics and upgrades from the original games can be reimagined in various ways to fit a 3D environment.
Despite these new possibilities, Shovel Knight 2 must retain the nostalgic charm that made the original games so beloved. Sure, there will be obvious improvements to visuals, but the original art style and the in-game quirky humor, layered with the captivating story, is what the game a fan favorite.
Shovel Knight Over The Years
The Shovel Knight’s journey kicked off with its first game back in 2014. Drawing inspirations from classic 8-bit titles such as Mega Man and Castlevania, players assume the role of the main hero and embark on a journey to save Shield Knight from the evil Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter.
Plague of Shadows, released in 2015, tells the story of Plague Knight, one of the members of the Order of No Quarter, whereas the 2017 game Specter of Torment puts a spotlight on another Order of No Quarter member, Specter Knight. Both these games were well received and gave fans a deeper look into the backstory of the whole universe.
King of Cards and Showdown are the last two games in the series, which were released in 2019. Much like the other games in the series, King of Cards boasts a different protagonist, King Knight. On the other hand, Showdown is a multiplayer brawler game that brings together characters from the Shovel Knight universe.
With so many successful games in the series, it’s not surprising the expectations are high for the next game in the franchise. Additionally, it will be interesting to see if the game can achieve the same success as Helldivers 2.
Do you think Shovel Knight 2 will do justice to its series? Let us know in the comments below.
