Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Debuts on Nintendo Switch After 20-Year Wait

WayForward has officially launched Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution on the Nintendo Switch, fulfilling a 20-year journey that brings this long-shelved title to modern gamers.

Originally conceived for the Game Boy Advance in the early 2000s, the project was put on hold, only to be revitalized and fully restored by WayForward for a new generation.

The game is now available digitally on the Nintendo eShop, with a physical release planned to follow. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution continues the beloved Shantae series with a unique twist.

Players once again step into the shoes of Shantae, the iconic half-genie guardian, and face off against the notorious pirate Risky Boots.

This time, Risky unleashes a plan that literally turns Sequin Land on its head: by spinning the continent, she aims to bring any town to the coast for effortless plundering.

Players must use newfound abilities to manipulate terrain, shifting and rotating multilayered playfields to solve environmental puzzles and explore the world like never before. In a statement detailing the game’s features, WayForward explained that Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is more than just a lost chapter—it's a full-fledged adventure.

Players can use Shantae's signature hair-whip attacks, magical items, and an array of belly-dance transformations including forms like monkey, elephant, and crab.

The addition of six unique creature transformations adds fresh strategic layers to both platforming and combat sequences. The development team also highlighted the innovative level-shifting mechanic: "Spin and shift the Front Yard and Back Yard playfields to create new routes and paths, offering a dynamic approach to exploration and puzzle-solving throughout Sequin Land." This new gameplay feature breathes modern life into the classic action-platformer formula. The game includes a robust single-player campaign filled with labyrinths, collectables, and returning fan-favorite characters such as Rottytops, Sky, and Bolo.

For the first time in series history, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution introduces a four-player versus Battle Mode, allowing friends to compete locally—a major milestone for the franchise. Having launched digitally on the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution represents a significant achievement for WayForward.

The studio’s commitment to preserving and reimagining dormant projects has once again paid off, enriching the Nintendo Switch library with an experience rooted in classic handheld gaming while featuring modern innovations.

Fans can look forward to physical copies arriving soon, further cementing this entry as a must-play within the Shantae series. For continued updates on Nintendo Switch game releases and Shantae series news, be sure to follow our complete coverage.

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