Screenshots1 / 5
Shantae
桑塔
Shantae is a 2002 action platformer developed by WayForward Technologies for the Game Boy Color. Players control Shantae, a half-genie guardian, using her signature hair whip as the primary weapon. The game features magic spells and transformations that grant temporary animal abilities, essential for solving puzzles and accessing new areas. Progression involves collecting power-ups and defeating enemies across multiple themed levels, from beaches to deserts. Controls are straightforward with directional input for movement and buttons for attacking and jumping. The nonlinear level design allows players to tackle stages in various orders, provided they've acquired the necessary abilities. Combat emphasizes platforming challenges alongside enemy encounters, creating a balanced action experience that showcases the Game Boy Color's capabilities.
- Platform
- Game Boy
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 1P
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 (3.4K)
- Last updated
Shantae Controls — Game Boy Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Shantae on our in-browser Game Boy emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Shantae Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Shantae on Game Boy before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Shantae" Game Boy longplay
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Shantae support?
Shantae is a single-player Action game for the Game Boy.
What type of game is Shantae?
Shantae is a Action game for the Game Boy, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Shantae for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Shantae runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Shantae in the browser?
No. Shantae streams from a public archive into a browser-side Game Boy emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Shantae?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Game Boy cartridge supported.
Does Shantae work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Game Boy emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Shantae this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Shantae. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
