A lost Game Boy Advance metroidvania is finally coming to Nintendo Switch after 21 years

(Image credit: WayForward)

WayForward, the developers behind Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, have finally come back together to finish this Game Boy Advance (GBA) game after 21 years.

We first saw this classic Metroidvania at the Nintendo Indie World Showcase last night (November 14). Here, we saw footage of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, which seems to be a full-on remaster due to its HD character portraits and 16:9 ratio. The game will finally release on Nintendo Switch sometime in 2024, and in partnership with Limited Run Games, a special GBA cartridge will made available, too.

In Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, players must complete various platform levels. In the game, you explore the series' iconic Sequin Land and must attempt to stop Shantae's arch nemesis, Risky Boots, from using a subterranean device to terraform the world.

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Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution first began development all the way back in 2002, just before the release of the first Shantae game on Game Boy Color. However, this next installment was canceled in 2004. Unfortunately, the Metroidvania wasn't too popular at the time, having only amassed a cult following years after its first release. Now, though, with the Shantae series amassing much popularity, the time feels right to bring its lost game to light.

"More than 20 years later, we've brought the original development team back together to complete the lost Shantae game," Erin Bozon, the original creator of the character, said during the stream.

This Metroidvania was previously announced earlier in 2023, with the developers pledging that they would finally finish the long-sought-after title. However, at that point, WayForward had only confirmed Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution for the GBA via freshly manufactured GBA cartridges.

We got to see tons of other fantastic indie games last night at Nintendo's Indie World Showcase, so if you're looking to get some creative and cheap games for your Nintendo Switch, be sure to check out everything that was released and is currently on offer.

If you like the look of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, then be sure to check out all the fantastic Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals, Black Friday Nintendo Switch OLED deals, and the Black Friday video game deals if you want to snag a fantastic console or more games at a lower price.

Elie is a Features Writer for TechRadar Gaming, here to write about anything new or slightly weird. Before writing for TRG, Elie studied for a Masters at Cardiff University JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries – spending their free time filming short docs or editing the gaming section for their student publications.

Elie’s first step into gaming was through Pokémon but they've taken the natural next step in the horror genre. Any and every game that would keep you up at night is on their list to play - despite the fact that one of Elie’s biggest fears is being chased.