Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

Specter of Torment is a fantastic addition to the Shovel Knight series — the movement mechanics feel incredibly fluid once it clicks, and using your scythe to grind rails and skate into enemies never gets old. The music is an absolute banger and the story adds surprising depth to a character I didn't expect to care about this much. It's a bit shorter than the original campaign, but the tighter, more focused design more than makes up for it, and New Game+ will absolutely humble you if you think you've mastered it. One heads-up: if you already own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, this is included for free, so check before buying — though honestly, if you love the series, supporting the devs isn't the worst thing. Highly recommended for any fan of tight, challenging 2D platformers.

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