What is Shovelware and how can you spot it?

The term “Shovelware” is a negative term often used to describe video games and other software that is best avoided. Here’s how to find out so you don’t waste your money.

Shovelware is poor quality software

The term “Shovelware” refers to software that is “shoveled” in large quantities, with little care. It is often used when referring to video games and software tools that are of poor quality, providing little value (which is often reflected in the price).

The term is also used to describe bundled software that comes with games and other tools (often of higher quality), or complete software packages. This term was once commonly used to describe CD sets that contained a lot of games or software in one package, taking a quantity over quality approach. The idea was to convince buyers that these sets were worth purchasing due to the sheer number of items included, when in reality very few of the items included were worth anything at all.

Nowadays, the term “Shovelware” is more likely to apply to an individual product, especially when it comes to video games. Even mobile applications can be considered shovelware due to the relative ease of creating and distributing low-effort software.

Online stores are full of scoops

In general, the more popular a platform becomes, the more tools it has available. The Nintendo Wii was a hugely popular home console that became infamous for the sheer number of consoles that found their way into living rooms all over the world.

Sellers only need to convert a relatively low percentage of console owners into buyers of whatever they’re shoveling in order to make some sort of profit. Since the overhead of producing poor quality goods is low, profit margins can be high.

The Nintendo Switch followed in the Wii’s footsteps, becoming Nintendo’s most successful console to date. This made the storefront difficult to navigate. The Switch eShop is so loaded with shovelware that we recommend using the store using a web browser on a different device instead.

Other platforms such as Steam, PlayStation Store, Apple’s App Store, and Google Play make it easier to sell low-quality software.

Telltale tags from the scoop

Since shovel tools are a form of fraud, the old adage rings true: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Shovelware tools often sell for very little money, especially compared to the high-quality versions that can appear alongside them. Sometimes it’s permanently on sale, spending more time at a discounted price than its “full” price.

Shovelware can also be designed to look like other, more successful releases. One trick is to convince buyers to believe they are purchasing from a reputable chain. Another tactic is to have the product appear next to the real deal so that the potential buyer will think the purchase is worth it because they enjoyed a similar version.

When it comes to software, be tired of getting more than you bargained for. If you’re looking for a video editor and the developer is selling a full suite of apps for the same entry price, that’s a red flag. Quality programs (eg Serif Affinity Suite) is available at a discounted all-in-one price, but you’ll pay a lot more and only save a decent amount (rather than feeling like you bought one app and got seven more for free).

Another tactic often used by shovel vendors is to repackage old releases into “new” packages for game distribution platforms. This is a common occurrence in the Nintendo Switch eShop, where “new” Switch games are released again with minor changes to appear in the “New Releases” section.

Asset volatility is another form of shoveling. Many game developers use pre-made assets in their games to speed up the development process, but “asset flipping” relies almost entirely on pre-made elements. Some go so far as to repackage other people’s work or demo files and sell them for a profit.

Save money with sales, not shovel tools

The best way to get cheap software and games is to buy at the right moments, like during a Steam sale or using a price tracker like DekuDeals.