Shovel Knight

21 Hardcore games like Shovel Knight that you should try

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We filtered the 33 games similar to Shovel Knight down to the 21 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Pizza Tower, Spelunky and Trials 2: Second Edition top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Shovel Knight.

iRank91/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

Tags

HardcoreSoloCo-op

Year 2014Dev Yacht Club Games

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Hardcore” category, the closest game to Shovel Knight is Pizza Tower — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Spelunky and Trials 2: Second Edition follow close behind.

#1Pizza Tower97 #2Spelunky95 #3Trials 2: Second Edition91 #4Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time89 #5Risk of Rain89

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The best hardcore games like Shovel Knight

21 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Shovel Knight. Each one has been evaluated across 10 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

97

Pizza Tower

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 98%· 71KRAWG👍 79%· 58IGDB90· 1OC91· 10

Year 2023Dev Tour De PizzaPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty.

≠ Missing: fantasy world.

95

Spelunky

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 92%· 17KIGDB91· 10OC87· 25

Year 2012Dev BlitWorks · Microsoft StudiosOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, survival mechanics and procedural generation, while skipping visual pixel

#3Trials 2: Second Edition

91

Trials 2: Second Edition

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerHardcore2D

Steam👍 84%· 280RAWG👍 67%· 24IGDB80· 1

Year 2008Dev Redlynx · RedLynxPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with racing gameplay and sports simulation, while skipping adventure storytelling

#4Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

89

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 87%· 3.9KIGDB86· 16OC85· 170

Year 2020Dev Toys for Bob · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping co op

Steam PS Nintendo

89

Risk of Rain

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreFantasy2DPixel Art

Steam👍 93%· 30KIGDB85· 4OC77· 17

Year 2013Dev Hopoo Games · Chucklefish GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and shooter

87

Mighty No. 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 50%· 3.4KIGDB52· 20OC52· 92

Year 2016Dev Inti Creates · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with shooter, vibe casual and setting anime, while skipping fantasy world

#7Super House of Dead Ninjas

86

Super House of Dead Ninjas

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 96%· 1.7KRAWG👍 62%· 75MC79IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev Megadev · Adult Swim GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs and procedural generation, while skipping adventure storytelling

#8Sonic the Hedgehog

85

Sonic the Hedgehog

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasy2DPixel Art

Steam👍 85%· 41IGDB85· 2

Year 1991Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, while skipping co op

84

Clustertruck

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreCasualFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 18KIGDB74· 10OC74· 45

Year 2016Dev Landfall Games · tinyBuildOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual first person, while skipping adventure storytelling

#10Super Meat Boy

83

Super Meat Boy

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloHardcore2DPixel ArtCasual

Steam👍 94%· 38KIGDB85· 4OC83· 25

Year 2010Dev Team Meat · BlitWorksOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, while skipping melee combat

Steam Epic Xbox

82

Mega Man 11

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DSci-Fi

Steam👍 89%· 5.3KIGDB80· 12OC81· 115

Year 2018Dev Capcom Development Division 2 · CapcomOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, first-person shooting and setting scifi, while skipping fantasy world

#12The End Is Nigh

81

The End Is Nigh

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 3.4KIGDB74· 3OC82· 29

Year 2017Dev Tyler GlaielOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping fantasy world

80

Lugaru HD

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreStealthNarrative

Steam👍 79%· 587RAWG👍 33%· 42

Year 2010Dev Wolfire GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, fighting mechanics and action RPG combat, while skipping fantasy world

80

Mega Man 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 84%· 1.8KIGDB88· 7

Year 2008Dev Inti Creates · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus, while skipping adventure storytelling

78

SANABI

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcorePixel Art2D

Steam👍 97%· 44KRAWG👍 89%· 34IGDB95· 2OC80· 6

Year 2023Dev SANABI · NEOWIZPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, linear, story-driven structure and setting cyberpunk, while skipping fantasy world

Complete list of hardcore games like Shovel Knight

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Shovel Knight, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

Platformer · Horror

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Vibrant Venture

Platformer · Adventure

Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends

Platformer · Adventure

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball

Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball

Platformer · Puzzle

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

Platformer · Puzzle

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