WayForward is the developer and publisher of the upcoming platform video game Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. Set chronologically between the original Shantae (2002) and Shantae Advance Risky Revolution (2010), it is the sixth game in the Shantae series. The game follows Shantae, a half-genie, as she travels Sequin Land and tries to stop Risky Boots, her adversary, from terraforming the area with a contraption hidden underneath.
The game was supposed to be the second in the series and was first developed for the Game Boy Advance in 2002. However, WayForward was unable to find a publisher, therefore it was canceled in 2004. WayForward declared in 2023 that work had begun and that the game would be physically published by Limited Run Games for the GBA in 2024, though this was later postponed until 2025. The same year, digital versions of the game for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows are scheduled for release.
Shantae Advance Risky Revolution Overview
| Game Name | Shantae Advance Risky Revolution |
| Developer(s) | WayForward |
| Publisher(s) | WayForward |
| Director(s) | Matt Bozon |
| Programmer(s) | Michael Strategy |
| Composer(s) | Maddie Lim |
| Series | Shantae |
| Release | 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Platform, Metroidvania |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
About This Game
Twenty years in the works, Shantae returns in a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game! By rotating the continent, the evil pirate Risky Boots can transfer any town directly to the coast for simple looting, which is a “groundbreaking” new idea that will have Sequin Land reeling! Take control of the land itself as Shantae and use the mix-and-match multiple levels to shift, twist, travel, and explore to flip the tectonic tables on Risky! Navigate through jumbled landscapes, lost towns, monster-filled crypts, and intimidating labyrinths while belly-dancing and hair-whipping. A 4-player vs mode, intense boss fights, and six creature changes are all in store!
Gameplay
Players take on the role of Shantae, a half-genie who must traverse the continent of Sequin Land to thwart the evil lady pirate Risky Boots, in the platform-adventure game Shantae Advance. Shantae may learn special dances that allow her to change into other beasts, and her basic attack is to use her hair like a whip. A mermaid and a crab are among the new transformations, in addition to the harpy, monkey, elephant, and spider transformations that are returning from the original Shantae.
Shantae can swim and use certain gates to go between the foreground and background throughout the game. Shantae can explore new places by rotating the world and changing the environmental layout with the help of the underground Tremor Engine. Additionally, Shantae can fly on the back of Sky’s bird Wrench to travel between different regions. Additionally, the game will have a four-player multiplayer warfare mode.
Key Features
- Four players can battle in Battle Mode for the first time in a Shantae game!
- After 20 years, discover the lost chapter of the Shantae saga, totally restored and now available!
- To make new paths and work out riddles, spin and move the Front Yard and Back Yard playfields!
- Use your magic tools, hair-whipping ability, and belly-dance transformations (monkey, elephant, crab, and more) to battle and explore!
- Explore villages, fight your way through mazes, buy upgrades, locate collectibles, and run into buddies like Bolo, Sky, and Rottytops!
System Requirements
Minimum:
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- OS: Windows 10 64-Bit
- Processor: Intel Core i3-4160
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX 9 compatible
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Recommended:
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- OS: Windows 10 64-Bit
- Processor: Intel Core i3-6300
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX 9 compatible
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 750Ti (VRAM 2GB)
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Conclusion
Fans of the series can expect an exciting return with Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, which combines Metroidvania and platforming action. With its four-player multiplayer option, world-shifting mechanisms, and new transformations, this much-anticipated game is sure to provide an unforgettable gaming experience. When the game hits on several platforms in 2025, get ready for an adventure.