Shovel Pirate/2 Player mode

The menu for selecting the arena and player characters in 2 Player mode.

2 Player, also known as Vs. mode on Steam, is a local multiplayer game mode in Shovel Pirate. It was added in version 0.0.6 on Poki and version 1.0.2 on Steam, released March 1, 2024 and March 7, 2024 respectively.

Controls

Keyboard

Player 1

• A and D keys - Move left/right
• W key - Jump
• Spacebar - Use shovel

Player 2

• Left and right arrow keys - Move left/right
• Up arrow key - Jump
• Enter key - Use shovel

Controller

Controllers are only natively supported on Steam and will only control Player 1. Only button controls are listed, but the game also supports the left side joystick for moving left and right

• Left/right - Move in the respective direction
• A button - Jump
• X button - Use shovel
• Start button - Pause and bring up the options menu in-game

Gameplay

Players face each other in a fixed arena based on one of the three level themes (beach, graveyard, jungle). The goal of each player is to defeat their opponent by using their shovel on bombs that fall from the top off-screen. Both players start with two hit points like the single player mode, indicated by a heart. If a player takes damage while their heart is empty, the round will end and the winning player is awarded a point, visible on the game over screen. Points are saved, even when switching to single player mode, until the game is closed.

An example of the Game Over screen. The crowns on the right indicate that Player 2 has won the round.

Arenas

• Beach - This area contains four raised, grassy platforms on sandy ground. The middle two platforms are at a slightly higher elevation and the lower platforms at either end have palm trees. Each platform contains one radish shoot.
• Graveyard - This area contains four grassy platforms. The two platforms closest to the center are slightly raised, and a spike pit lies between them. Two radish shoots are on each of the lower platforms on the sides.
• Jungle - This area has a long grassy platform in the middle with one elevated platform on either side directly above it. A thin platform bridges the gap between the elevated platforms. Each of the elevated platforms has two radish shoots.

• 

  Beach arena

• 

  Graveyard arena

• 

  Jungle arena

Elements

•  Bomb - Descends from the top of the screen and will detonate briefly after touching the ground. If shovelled onto another player, it will explode on impact.
•  Radish - Can be dug up and eaten to restore health.

Customization

Both players can select from one of four possible skins in the "Arena Select" menu using the arrows surrounding the Player 1 and Player 2 characters. Each skin is a recoloring of the pirate, with the default appearance as an available option. Hats cannot be worn in the arenas and every character, regardless of color, will wear the default bandanna. Both players cannot pick the same skin.

• 
• 
• 
•