Shovel Pirate is a puzzle-platform game that was released on February 15, 2024 for mobile and Steam and February 22, 2024 on Poki and September 4, 2024 on itch.io. The game is free to play with ads on Android. On iOS, the first six levels are free-to-play with no ads and a paywall to unlock levels 7-15.
Controllers are only natively supported on Steam. Only button controls are listed, but the game also supports the left side joystick for moving left, right, up and down movements.
Left/right - Move in the respective direction
A button - Jump
X button - Use shovel
Up/down - Go up and down ladders
Start button - Pause and bring up the options menu in-game
The player controls a pirate equipped with a shovel and has to find and hit the flag pole at the end of each level to proceed to the next. Each level has three hidden gems and one collectible, whose locations are marked on a map that the player can find within the level. While levels can be completed without obtaining any treasures, the player must collect all gems to unlock the game's good ending.
Shovel Pirate has fifteen levels, which take place in beach, graveyard and jungle themed areas. Levels 1-6 are free-to-play on iOS, while levels 7-15 can be played by paying an in-app purchase.
There are a total of 7 beach levels, 4 graveyard levels and 4 jungle levels.
Level 1 (Beach)
This level features multiple sign posts introducing the basic controls and gameplay mechanics. It is the only level to have no map item.
Map - Found on the sand to the right of the second sign post, past the first snake..
Gem 1 - Use the shovel on the dirt clod to the right of the topmost palm tree on the grassy platform.
Gem 2 - Found at the top of a palm tree directly to the right of a grassy platform with a snake. The player can jump on top of the palm tree by jumping up the grassy platforms, then moving and jumping to the right.
Gem 3 - Located under a large lump of sand directly underneath the flag pole. The player will need to break a pair of bricks with their shovel to access it.
Collectible - Dig the small lump to the right of the rightmost palm tree.
Map - Found resting on a flat tree branch directly above the first headstone. The player can reach it by walking and jumping off the grassy ledge to the left of the branch..
Gem 1 - Found in the dirt clod between the first two headstones.
Gem 2 - Found in a hidden passage within the walls. To reach it, the player must enter in from the right side using the flat branch with the crow.
Gem 3 - Found in the dirt clod on the highest grassy platform, to the left of the headstone.
Collectible - Dig up the dirt clod to the right of the crow nearby the second gem.
This level introduces the player to mice that can be found when digging up larger lumps of sand. It is also the first level where the map item is found in two separate halves.
Map (left half) - Found at the top of the leftmost palm tree.
Map (right half) - Found on top of some pink bricks above a small set of steps created by the gray wavy surfaces.
Gem 1 - Found in the left dirt clod near the top of the second ladder.
Gem 2 - There is an area with two ladders and a snake. The player should descend the two ladders and dig up the large lump of sand found at the bottom of these ladders.
Gem 3 - Use the shovel to dig up the large lump of sand between the two palm trees directly to the left of the flag pole.
Collectible - Dig up the small lump found to the left of two palm trees in a short pit.
This level introduces rocks and fences. A key is found by digging up the large lump in the small pit with the mice. It is the last level to be playable for free on iOS - a paywall notification will appear at the start of level 7 if the player does not purchase access.
Map (left half) - Found on the first set of pink blocks between the two traps.
Map (right half) - Found enclosed within a small alcove at the bottom of two ladders. The player can descend and walk to the left, then break the bricks while avoiding or defeating the nearby snake.
Gem 1 - There is a small area that can only be accessed by descending a ladder below the first trap. The player should descend, then dig up the left dirt clod.
Gem 2 - Found the dirt clod to the left of a trap. The player can knock the tribe minion backwards or use a rock to trigger the trap before digging up the gem.
Gem 3 - Found in the dirt clod below the wavy platform closest to the flag pole.
Collectible - Dig up the right clod of dirt on the ground below the player's starting point.
Map - Found on the tree branch directly above the first flamethrower. The player can access it by approaching it from the right side using the second flamethrower as a stool and jumping to the tree branch on the left. The screen will pan to the right, revealing a concealed third fence to the right of the flag pole leading to the gem..
Key - In the area with a skeleton directly to the right of the spike pit, dig the lowest dirt clod to the left of the door.
Gem 1 - There is a slightly lower patch of ground with a dirt clod in between each of them. The player should dig up the dirt clod in between the rightmost set of headstones.
Gem 2 - This gem can be seen in the middle of a large spike pit. To reach it, the player should use the fence to go to the right side of the spike pit, then defeat the nearby skeleton and push its skull into the spike pit to use as an extra platform to go to the left.
Gem 3 - Use the bottom two fences nearest to the flag pole to go behind the wall and all the way to the right.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the left of the leftmost headstone.
Map - Found on top of two horizontally aligned flamethrowers above a skeleton..
Gem 1 - Found on some pink blocks to the right and above the skeleton. To reach it, the player must time their hits on the skeleton to get the skull to land on the slightly higher ledge. This can be done by hitting the skeleton as it moves towards the player underneath the right flamethrower - which should cause it to jump up onto the ledge - and then hitting it on the ledge before it can run down.
Gem 2 - This gem is found near the two headstones directly to the right of the section with spikes on the ceiling. The player should dig up the dirt clod between the spring and the headstone.
Gem 3 - Found on a tree branch to the right of the flag pole, nearby two flamethrowers. The player can collect it by using the spring to the left of the flag pole to boost up to the tree branch, then move to the right, jumping on the tree branches and flamethrowers.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the right of the flag pole.
Map - Found in between the two trees with monkeys on it on the outer left side of the level..
Key - There are two keys in this level. The first is found to the right of the mice encased within a brick barrier. The player can access it after breaking the two sets of bricks and moving farther to the right. The second is on top of a palm tree with a monkey on it. This is directly to the left of a door with mice running back and forth within an enclosed area.
Gem 1 - The first gem is found next to the first tree when the player moves to the left to the level.
Gem 2 - This gem is in the only dirt spot of the level on top of a platform standing on a platform that can be reached with a ladder.
Gem 3 - The final gem is next to the end of the level on the final dirt spot.
Collectible - The collectible can be found in the lump of sand at the very left of the level.
This level starts with the player next to a palm tree with a monkey on top and has one locked door. The flag pole is found at the bottom of the level, accessed by descending two ladders.
Map (left half) - Found on a grassy platform to the left of the first monkey encountered. The player can access it by going up the ladder to the left, where another monkey on a palm tree will be seen on the far left.
Map (right half) - Found on top of a set of pink blocks above the area where four mice run back and forth.
Key - Found on a platform above the door. It can be accessed by climbing up a ladder on the far left and jumping on top of the palm trees to the right.
Gem 1 - Dig up the dirt clod directly to the right of the leftmost palm tree with the monkey on it.
Gem 2 - After going behind the first fence, continue walking to the right, past the second fence. This will lead to a small enclosed area with a third fence and the gem.
Gem 3 - Dig the large lump of sand directly to the left of the flag pole.
Collectible - There are two small lumps of sand seen nearby to the right of the third fence. Dig the small lump on the right side.
This level contains several gems and a key that are located in dirt clods in front of traps and flamethrowers. It has one locked door, the key of which is found in the dirt clod below the two sets of pink bricks.
Map (left half) - Found within the enclosed area to the bottom left blocked off by bricks with a mouse inside.
Map (right half) - Found on top of a palm tree next to a flamethrower. To access it, the player should continue to the right and climb up the ladder while avoiding the flamethrowers. They should then go to the left of the locked door, where a hidden passage can be encountered, allowing the player to reach the upper pink blocks and the other half of the map.
Key - Dig up the dirt clod under the two sets of pink bricks nearby a trap. To set off the trap, the player can push the tribe minion on the topmost pink bricks downward and towards the trap's firing range.
Gem 1 - Found in the first dirt clod in front of the trap. After breaking the bricks below the starting point, allow the mouse to run and trigger the trap.
Gem 2 - Dig up the far right dirt clod to the right of the small grassy platform with the four radish shoots. This dirt clod should be nearby a flamethrower.
Gem 3 - Found in the dirt clod in the path of a flamethrower. The player will need to time their digs to avoid being hit by the flames and may need to defeat or scare away the monkey to the right to avoid being hit by baseballs.
Collectible - Dig up the dirt clod directly to the right of the small grassy platform with four radish shoots.
Map - Found on top of the leftmost pink blocks nearby a tree with a monkey..
Key - Dig up the dirt clod closest to the left of the door, to the right of a trap on lower ground.
Gem 1 - Dig the first dirt clod directly to the right of the first palm tree, on the elevated grassy platform.
Gem 2 - After descending the ladder, dig the dirt clod to the right of the nearby trap. The player can break the bricks and push the tribe minion into the trap before digging.
Gem 3 - Found in the dirt clod at the topmost grassy platform in between two palm trees just before the flag pole.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the left of the trap to the right of the dirt clod with the second gem. To trigger the trap without taking damage, the player can push the tribe minion on the right side of the trap.
Map - Jump up the grassy platforms and use the branch to the right to reach the ledge on the top-right with the map..
Key - Dig up the dirt clod closest to the left of the door, on lower ground and in the area with a skeleton and crow.
Gem 1 - Dig up the dirt clod directly to the left of the third headstone encountered.
Gem 2 - Dig up the dirt clod to the right of the pair of flamethrowers over the spike pit. The player should dig facing the right side to avoid pushing the gem into the spike pit.
Gem 3 - Dig up the dirt clod to the right of the last ladder, just before the area with the skeleton walking back and forth in the spike pit.
Collectible - Found in the dirt clod directly to the left of the flag pole. The player should dig facing the flag pole, as digging in the opposite direction will push the collectible into the spike pit.
To get the Bad ending, the player must leave at least one gem uncollected and complete level 15. The player can earn an achievement for getting this ending in the iOS and Android versions only.
This box contains SPOILERS about the Bad ending! Click [show] to reveal.
The Bad ending shows a wooden board against a blue sky and water with the word "Ending" in white block letters at the top. Centered in the lighter-colored part of the board, the text displays, "Get all gems to unlock the ending." This screen automatically fades to black after a few seconds.
To get the Good ending, the player must collect every gem in the game at least once and complete level 15.
This box contains SPOILERS about the Good ending! Click [show] to reveal.
The Good ending shows the pirate against a purple background on circular yellow ground holding a gem in one hand and the shovel in the other. The pirate's speech bubble says, "Ahoy, well done!" This ending displays for a few seconds before automatically fading to black.
Spikes - Cover some areas on the ground or ceiling of graveyard-themed levels. They can defeat most enemies and damage the pirate on contact.
Trap - Exclusive to the jungle-themed levels, traps launch a spike if a player, enemy or object crosses its path.
Flamethrower - Found in graveyard and jungle-themed levels, flamethrowers emit a flame that spans across a certain range horizontally and will harm the pirate on contact.
The player can deflect incoming baseballs to defeat monkeys in trees.
Bad Ending
Unlock the bad ending
Awarded if the player completes level 15 but has left at least one gem uncollected in at least one level. This achievement is only available on iOS and Android.
Good Ending
Unlock the good ending
Awarded if the player completes level 15 with all gems collected in every level.
January 4, 2024 - Neutronized posts a GIF with the message been cooking a new game for y'all! Stay tuned 🏴☠️.[1] The image shows a red snake walking on yellow ground when a character enters from the right and defeats the snake with their shovel. The character digs up a plant from the grassy platform above and eats it, then jumps to the topmost platform and exits to the right nearby a palm tree.
January 5, 2024 - Neutronized posts a GIF showing the red snake moving behind a background element. The character with the shovel climbs up a ladder then defeats the snake with the shovel.[2]
January 11, 2024 - Neutronized shares a GIF on X showing the character with the shovel and a monkey. Upon throwing a baseball twice, the character uses the shovel to repel the baseball back at the monkey, defeating it. The character then digs up a gem from the ground.[3]
January 15, 2024 - The game becomes available to pre-order on the App Store and pre-register on Google Play. The name is revealed to be Shovel Pirate and the game's icon, along with screenshots and a trailer, are also displayed.
January 18, 2024 - An announce trailer is shared on YouTube, X and the Super Cat Tales Discord server, along with a Neutronized.com URL to pre-order the game.[4]
January 23, 2024 - Shovel Pirate becomes available to wishlist on Steam. Neutronized makes the announcement on X with a GIF showing the game's protagonist hitting the flag pole with the shovel.[5]
Neutronized also uploads a YouTube short announcing the Steam availability.
January 24, 2024 - A YouTube short is uploaded to the Neutronized YouTube channel showing a brief demo of Shovel Pirate on Steam with Gionathan narrating. The video shows a preview of the menu and gameplay, explaining the map in further detail.
January 25, 2024 - Neutronized posts three YouTube shorts showing footage from the beach levels and promoting the game's ability to be wishlisted on Steam.
January 26, 2024 - Neutronized publishes two posts on X - one showing a preview of the graveyard levels[6] and another announcing that Shovel Pirate was featured in the App Store's "Upcoming Games We Love" section[7].
Neutronized posts three more YouTube shorts promoting the game's ability to be wishlisted on Steam.
February 3, 2024 - Neutronized releases three YouTube shorts promoting Shovel Pirate's availability to be wishlisted on Steam. Two of these shorts showcase graveyard levels and one short showcases footage from a beach level.
February 15, 2024 - Shovel Pirate is released to mobile and Steam.
March 7, 2024 - Neutronized announces an update to the Steam build with the addition of wearable hats for the pirate and a local versus multiplayer mode. They post a GIF on X showing the pirate standing on top of a platform while a snake moves around the lower, wider platform below it.[8] This update is also released to Poki, but was not formally announced.
June 27, 2024 - The Steam version of Shovel Pirate gets a 25% discount as part of the Steam summer sale. Neutronized publishes a post on X and releases a YouTube Short promoting the sale.[9]
July 10, 2024 - Neutronized publishes a post on X as a reminder for the end of the Steam summer sale (July 11). The post includes a mention of the 25% discount and a link to Shovel Pirate's Steam page. A GIF is included in the announcement, showing the pirate collecting a couple of gems and completing Level 6.[10]
September 4, 2024 - Shovel Pirate is released on itch.io.[11]
Left/right - Move in the respective direction
A button - Jump
X button - Use shovel
Up/down - Go up and down ladders
Start button - Pause and bring up the options menu in-game
Left and right arrow keys
A and D keys
Up arrow key
W key
Down arrow key
S key
Spacebar
Gem 1 - Located at the top of a grassy platform nearby a signpost introducing the dig button.
Collectible - Dig the small lump directly to the left of the second tree encountered.
Map - Found on the sand to the right of the second sign post, past the first snake..
Collectible - Dig the small lump to the right of the rightmost palm tree.
Key - Found to the left of the level at the top of a platform accessed by going up the ladder.
Collectible - Dig the small lump to the left of the ladder found directly to the right of the first monkey.
Collectible - Dig up the dirt clod to the right of the crow nearby the second gem.
Map (left half) - Found at the top of the leftmost palm tree.
Map (right half) - Found on top of some pink bricks above a small set of steps created by the gray wavy surfaces.
Collectible - Dig up the small lump found to the left of two palm trees in a short pit.
Collectible - Use the shovel on the small lump of sand to the right of the second fence.
Collectible - Dig up the right clod of dirt on the ground below the player's starting point.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the left of the leftmost headstone.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the right of the flag pole.
Collectible - The collectible can be found in the lump of sand at the very left of the level.
Collectible - There are two small lumps of sand seen nearby to the right of the third fence. Dig the small lump on the right side.
Collectible - Dig up the dirt clod directly to the right of the small grassy platform with four radish shoots.
Collectible - Dig up the middle dirt clod after climbing the ladder nearby by a trap.
Collectible - Dig the dirt clod to the left of the trap to the right of the dirt clod with the second gem. To trigger the trap without taking damage, the player can push the tribe minion on the right side of the trap.
Collectible - Found in the dirt clod directly to the left of the flag pole. The player should dig facing the flag pole, as digging in the opposite direction will push the collectible into the spike pit.
Radish - Can be dug out of the ground from shoots on grassy platforms. Eating a large radish will restore any health the player has lost.
Snake - Moves along the ground and can go behind walls in a continuous direction.
Mouse - Runs back and forth and can fall off ledges. They can also be hidden under dirt and sand clods.
Monkey - Moves back and forth on the top of palm trees and throws baseballs at the pirate if in a close enough range.
Skeleton - Walks back and forth at a slow pace, then runs if hit once. On the second hit, they will produce a skull that can be walked on.
Crow - Perched on branches, they will remain stationary and fly towards the pirate at a close enough distance.
Tribe minion - Walks back and forth and can only be defeated from behind. If hit from the front, they will be knocked back.
Sign post - Displays information on gameplay mechanics and controls when the pirate is nearby.
Flag pole - When hit with the shovel, the level is completed.
Pink brick - Creates a solid surface mainly as platforms in the air. They cannot be destroyed with the shovel.
Door - Prevents the player from passing through and requires a key to unlock.
Dirt clod - Spots that can be dug up with the shovel to reveal gems, keys or mice.
Sand clod - Behaves similarly to clods, but can only be found at the beach.
Small sand clod - A smaller version of the sand clod that can hide collectibles.
Fence - Can be hit with the shovel to go behind a wall.
Ladder - Can be used to reach higher or lower platforms within a level.
Spring - Boosts the pirate upwards.
Rock - Can be hit with the shovel to be launched away from the pirate. They can defeat enemies on impact or be used to set off traps.
Bomb - Exclusive to the 2 Player mode, the player can hit bombs with shovels to hit their opponent.
Spikes - Cover some areas on the ground or ceiling of graveyard-themed levels. They can defeat most enemies and damage the pirate on contact.
Trap - Exclusive to the jungle-themed levels, traps launch a spike if a player, enemy or object crosses its path.
Flamethrower - Found in graveyard and jungle-themed levels, flamethrowers emit a flame that spans across a certain range horizontally and will harm the pirate on contact.
The GIF shared Jan. 4, 2024
The GIF shared Jan. 5, 2024
The GIF shared Jan. 11, 2024
The GIF shared Jan. 23, 2024
The GIF shared Mar. 7, 2024
The GIF shared July 10, 2024
