Shantae

Shantae is a series of platform video games developed by American independent video game developer and publisher WayForward. The eponymous heroine of the series was created by Erin Bozon, while the games were created by her husband Matt Bozon. The series began in 2002 with the original Shantae, and currently consists of six games, with a seventh in development. Set in the fictional world of Sequin Land, the series follows Shantae, a half-genie who serves as the guardian of her hometown, Scuttle Town, and more generally Sequin Land as a whole, protecting it from various threats, which generally involve her nemesis, the pirate Risky Boots. The setting features oriental-inspired aesthetics with fantasy, dark fantasy and steampunk elements. All games involve collecting new powers and items, which vary from game to game, to strengthen Shantae and unlock access to new areas. Although released to positive reviews, the first game was a financial disappointment. Its poor sales are generally attributed to its late release on the Game Boy Color, which at the time had been succeeded by the Game Boy Advance. The series resurfaced in 2010 with Risky's Revenge, and has since enjoyed more commercial success and a growth in popularity. The series has been met with strong critical reception, and is considered WayForward's flagship series. By 2020, the series had sold more than three million copies.