The Knightling Review — Small Hero, Big Adventure

Fresh off the back of reviewing such heavy or “edgy” titles as DAVY x JONES or Killing Floor 3, and just before diving into Metal Gear Solid Delta, I was given the chance to play and review The Knightling, which, in stark contrast, is a remarkably cute, decidedly wholesome, and lighthearted experience about a tiny knight doing great big things on their quest to become a true hero.

The epic-in-writing of our protagonist begins with humble origins. As the Knightling, this universe’s version of a squire to the legendary hero Sir Lionstone, our protagonist finds their hero missing after the discovery of a vault of powerful weapons and an encounter with a dangerous stone monster. Left with nothing but their master’s glove and legendary magnetized shield, the Knightling sets off to do good in the absence of their master, getting ever closer to reuniting with them and uncovering the secret of their disappearance as they help villagers across the land, proving that they have what it takes to be a knight themself.

The Knightling is an open-world adventure game with a focus on meeting new characters, completing quests, and platforming, with combat sprinkled generously throughout. Once you’re out of the game’s somewhat lengthy introduction, which covers all of the basic combat and movement mechanics and introduces the game’s main conflict, the world opens up and is essentially yours to explore. While progression through the game’s different zones is blocked behind the story, when you do have access to an area you are free to explore it and complete whichever quests are available to you as you see fit. Main or “story” quests, of course, must be finished to progress, but can often be put off until you feel like it.

Platforming, movement, and combat are the three gameplay mechanics core to the experience of The Knightling, and every quest you face will involve each one in some way, providing enemies to fight, platforms to scale, and distance to travel as quickly as possible either as part of the quest or as an indirect obstacle in completing it. While none of these mechanics are what I would call revolutionary or especially impressive, they are all executed very well and feel solid to use, even with their limitations.

Combat specifically feels very smooth. Armed with the magical shield Magnustego, monsters and bandits are dispatched through a game of beat-em-up frisbee that would put Captain America to shame. That is to say, your shield can bash, throw, or be thrown at enemies in addition to blocking and parrying, and a dodge option exists to give you some extra maneuverability. As you gain a current known as “knightling praise,” you can gradually learn more moves, increasing the complexity of your moveset ever so slightly as you get closer to becoming a full knight.

It is not the most advanced or the most interactive combat system, but the feedback for hitting enemies, blocking, and so on all feels very solid and satisfying. It’s free of bugs or hiccups and very well balanced, maybe even leaning toward the easier end of difficulty on the game’s “normal” mode, but still presenting increasingly difficult enemies as you progress. There is a particular audience that I think the combat system is perfectly designed for, but I’ll touch on that more later in the review.

Movement in the game is pretty good, mostly thanks to the ability to use your shield as an incredibly overqualified sled or glider. Going downhill is the best part of the game, with sliding down slopes and over ramps being incredibly satisfying. Again, while good, the game still could do it a little better by providing just a bit more speed and fewer uphill segments with no sledding alternatives.

Something I really appreciate about The Knightling is that it is a game that might not appeal to everyone, but can appeal to anyone.

To explain, The Knightling definitely feels like it’s more on the spectrum of a “children’s game.” It is very younger-player friendly with its mechanics and storytelling. However, it is not so dedicated to this audience that it can’t be enjoyed by older players.

Something that particularly stood out to me is that the game takes its audience seriously. Even with an overall PG tone and story, there are still moments of tension that do not feel forced, and plenty of contemplation and acknowledgment of the danger of the situations our protagonist finds themself in, as well as the seriousness of the events that unfold throughout the story.

Our protagonist is no baby, nor are they treated as an adult. A recurring theme throughout the story is the way in which many adult characters constantly treat our protagonist as if they are not ready for the trials they take on, often insisting that they step aside and wait for a knight to come and solve the problem for them, something our protagonist at times can’t help but consider themself. It’s an endearing and realistic level of seriousness you don’t often see in fantasy stories starring young heroes, and it only makes the story all the more believable and enjoyable, elevating the entire experience to one that audiences of every age can enjoy.

While any audience can enjoy The Knightling, not every audience will. Its mechanics, while solid, can feel lacking in depth for players looking for a bit more to do, and the story has its high and low points with plenty of slow periods that can sap your attention span. That being said, this excellent choice for younger audiences should not be outright dismissed by older players, especially those looking for a relaxing yet still acceptably challenging and engaging experience.

Try Hard Guides was provided a Steam code for this PC review of The Knightling. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! The Knightling is available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.