All Shantae Games, Ranked

summation

• Despite critical acclaim, Shantae struggled with mainstream success.
• ‘Santae Advance: Risky Revolution’ suffers from technical limitations and will finally be released in 2025.
• Shantae has a devoted fan base, and all previous entries are playable on the Nintendo Switch, making it a must-play for any Metroidvania enthusiast.

Mountains Despite all of the indie series' entries receiving critical acclaim for their innovative mechanics, they never achieved the mainstream success they deserved. move forwardThe Brave star has now run for 23 years, but struggles with creative decisions and finding the right platform meant the series only received five entries. first sequel, Shantae Advance: A Dangerous Revolutionwas originally shelved because the technical limitations of the time prevented designer Matt Bozon from realizing his perspective-changing vision. The game will finally be released for the GameBoy Advance in 2025, courtesy of Limited Run Games.

Despite failing to achieve mainstream success, Shantae garnered a devoted fan base, with some of the original titles selling for as much as $4 on the collector's market. Fortunately, thanks to the aforementioned re-releases and Nintendo's ongoing support, all previous entries are now playable on Nintendo Switch. Metroidvania fans won't want to lose any sleep over this. Here are all the games ranked.

5 Mountains

Transforming Half Genie

Mountains It was a groundbreaking release for its time, pioneering Shantae's trademark shapeshifting abilities. Unlocking one of the metroidvania's classic animal transformations will allow Shantae to traverse previously inaccessible areas. Each animal also provides additional combat options, but they are not as useful as the standard headwhip attack. Especially after an upgrade.

These mechanics gave the series a distinct identity and created a colorful and delightful world. move forward The series established with Sequin Land will continue to form its signature appeal. Despite its good quality, the original hasn't aged particularly gracefully, as you might expect from an early 2000s indie title. The lack of good maps and textures make it difficult to interpret platform backgrounds in some crowded areas, making it a clunky experience for modern audiences.

4 Shantae: Risk's Revenge

The story begins

• platform: Nintendo DS, IOS, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows
• Released: 2010-10-04
• developer: Wayforward technology

There was an eight-year gap between the first two Shantae titles. The aforementioned original 2005 sequel was shelved and development restarted on the third entry. Self-published by WayForward, the game gives the developer complete control over the franchise and has taken its time to deliver a worthy sequel. This is most evident in the incredible sprites that bring the world and various enemy types to life.

It's also transitioned into a much more narrative-driven experience. Interestingly, the developers decided to treat this as a planned third installment. Shantae Advance: A Dangerous Revolution. Although it may be a bit difficult to understand for new fans Risk's Revenge At least it sets up the larger plot surrounding the franchise's central character and Shantae's search for answers about her legacy.

3 Shantae and the Seven Sirens

dancing in danger

Shantae and the Seven Sirens The production values ​​are immediately apparent with the incredible trailer, which features the vocal styles of renowned animation voice artists Shantae and Cristina Vee. WayForward partnered with Studio Trigger to create anime-style, fully voiced cutscenes for the game, which was a great addition to the storytelling. The only shame is that there aren't more of them. And as the story veered into new territory, the series' mysteries remained unsolved.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens We've also added a variety of new transformation abilities and a new layer of depth through our card-based character build system. Shantae can gain various perks and buffs granted by equipping cards found around the map. Unfortunately, some of these have random spawn points, leaving a somewhat frustrating task for perfectionists and fans who want to experience everything. However, for those looking for a powerful effect through their campaign, it's a great addition to the series.

2 Shantae: Half Genie Hero

A solid Genie experience

The first Shantae game made for home consoles; Shantae: Half Genie Hero We've taken full advantage of the extra features to deliver an exceptionally well-rounded experience. It shifted the series from a metroidvania to a much more linear approach, a controversial move. However, the game features great animations with a variety of new enemy types, level design, animal transformations, and arguably the best boss fights in the series.

It provides great lore for long-term fans while remaining accessible enough to serve as an entry point to the series. It explains Shantae's role as a guardian, what it means for this world, and what is believed to be the extinction of the genies. Shantae's mother was seemingly one of the last living genies, making Shantae one of the last bastions against supernatural evil in Sequin Land as an anti-genie.

1 Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

A pirate's life for me

Ironically, the best games in the series are the ones where Shantae doesn't have access to her unique abilities. It was a bold choice for the third entry, but it came together. There is a nautical theme that permeates the world, most notably the main antagonist is the evil pirate Risky Boots. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Based on this, Shantae must collect mythical pirate gear that replaces her usual transformation.

Pirate's Curse Replaces harpies and mermaids with good old guns and swords. This completely changes the way the game is played, making it unique in the series. WayForward was smart to not give fans too much of a good thing, such as Shantae regaining her powers and future games being revamped to a traditional format. It's the hardest game in the series, which helps it continue to be a fan favorite. It's the only Shantae game that requires precise platforming, and boss fights are a greater challenge than their contemporaries.