Shank is a 2D side-scrolling action beat 'em up video game developed by Canadian independent studio Klei Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts on August 24, 2010 on the PlayStation Network and August 25, 2010 on Xbox Live. In December 2011, it was re-released as part of the collection Humble Indie Bundle 4.
The game features melee and ranged combat, as well as acrobatic gameplay. Its plot was penned by the God of War series' co-writer Marianne Krawczyk and tells the tale of the ex-hitman Shank's quest for revenge in the single-player campaign, also featuring a prequel story in the form of a cooperative multiplayer campaign for two players.
Shank received mixed reviews, but generally positive reception overall. Critics generally praised the art style of both the gameplay and cutscenes, however some critics felt the game had uneven level design and repetitive gameplay. The game was commercially successful, selling tens of thousands of copies and remaining in the top 20 Xbox Live Arcade games during September 2010. It was followed by a sequel, Shank 2, released in 2012 for the same gaming platforms as the first game.
