Shovel Knight Dig

Shovel Knight Dig is a 2D roguelite platformer developed by Nitrome and Yacht Club Games. The player traverses downwards through different environments that are divided up into levels. Each level is comprised of pre-made segments that are stitched together using an algorithm.

During my time at Nitrome as a level designer, I have created, tested, and fine-tuned over 2,000 level segments for Shovel Knight Dig. Level segment creation includes tile layout, collectibles, obstacles, enemies, backgrounds, and entrances/exits. The majority of the game contains vertical level segments, but some other types include horizontal, secret, and boss rooms as well.

As I was responsible for the majority of levels, it required constant playtesting and reiteration to maintain a consistent game feel without unnatural spikes of difficulty. As a result of this challenge, I collaborated with the lead programmer frequently to modify parameters and keep the gameplay engaging. I also pitched “Knightmares”, which were difficulty modifiers in the DLC that provided players with significantly more replayability.