Shovel Knight: King of Cards

Shovel Knight: King of Cards is a 2019 downloadable content (DLC) expansion for the 2014 platform game Shovel Knight, developed and published by Yacht Club Games. The player takes control of a dandy named King Knight as he goes on a quest to win a card game and be awarded the title "King of Cards". King Knight attacks enemies by charging towards them, and is flung into the air after making contact with a surface or enemy. Gameplay is similar to the original Shovel Knight, and features several new locations. Compared to the original, there are more levels, but each one is shorter. Aside from the platforming, the player can engage in a card minigame called Joustus where they must strategically place cards on a board to ensure they occupy certain spaces. Yacht Club Games intended for King of Cards to be the final planned DLC for Shovel Knight, and desired for it to be the most ambitious expansion. After removing the world map in the previous content pack Specter of Torment, Yacht Club Games hoped to make a new one featuring secret levels and stages with a shorter layout. The developers wanted to create an experience separate from the franchise's typical platforming gameplay, leading them to create the Joustus minigame. The expansion was released alongside the multiplayer fighting game Shovel Knight Showdown. Upon release, King of Cards received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the level design and King Knight's characterization, while the Joustus minigame received a mixed response.