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Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

48 Games like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse that you should try

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Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, cozy, relaxing feel and melee combat in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 48 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Viewtiful Joe and KAPITAL PUNISHMENT 22XX lead the list, with NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound reaching a 92/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Shantae and the Pirate's Curse special.

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG
Tags
CozySolo
Year 2014Dev WayForward

Quick answer

The closest game to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound — scoring 92/100 on our similarity scale. Viewtiful Joe and KAPITAL PUNISHMENT 22XX follow close behind.

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Games like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

48 similar games foundUpdated May 2026
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound
RPGAction RPG
Solo2DPixel Art
Steam👍 93%· 2.5KRAWG👍 90%· 20IGDB86· 7OC86· 131
Year 2025Dev The Game Kitchen · DotEmuPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Viewtiful Joe
RPGAction RPG
Solo2D
IGDB90· 1
Year 2003Dev Team Viewtiful · Capcom

✓ Shared with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse: deep RPG systems, precision platforming and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

KAPITAL PUNISHMENT 22XX
RPGAction RPG
SoloMelee2D
RAWG👍 84%· 44MC83
Year 2000Dev AtlusOn PS

✓ Shared with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse: deep RPG systems, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, while skipping precision platforming

DAVE THE DIVER
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeCozyExplorationPixel Art2D
Steam👍 97%· 150KRAWG👍 87%· 188OC90· 87
Year 2023Dev MINTROCKET · NexonPlaytime ~9hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Nintendo

✓ Shared with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and cozy, relaxing feel

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, roguelike runs and vibe casual, while skipping precision platforming

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeMagic2D
Year 1993Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd. · Tec ToyOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, precision platforming and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeCozyAnimeExploration2D
Steam👍 95%· 18KIGDB90· 2OC86· 68
Year 2025Dev Live Wire · Binary Haze InteractivePlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse: deep RPG systems, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, dark, oppressive atmosphere and punishing difficulty, while skipping combat magic

Comix Zone
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeMagic2DHardcore
Steam👍 94%· 18
Year 1995Dev Sega Technical Institute · Tec ToyOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · Android

✓ Like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, it's known for deep RPG systems, melee combat and combat magic

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, puzzle design and fighting mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

Gladiator Guild Manager: Prologue
RPGAction RPG
SoloMagicTacticalFantasyMedieval
Steam👍 93%· 1.6K
Year 2020Dev Entertainment Forge · GrabTheGamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, combat magic and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, turn-based strategy and survival mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

Super Castlevania IV
RPGAction RPG
Solo2DDarkNarrativeHorror
IGDB100· 1
Year 1991Dev Konami

✓ Like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, it's known for deep RPG systems, precision platforming and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, dark, oppressive atmosphere and strong narrative focus, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Islets
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeCozyExploration2D
Steam👍 96%· 2.3KRAWG👍 87%· 29IGDB81· 2OC79· 19
Year 2022Dev Kyle Thompson · Armor Games StudiosPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Nintendo

✓ Like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, it's known for deep RPG systems, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world, while skipping combat magic

SteamWorld Heist
RPGAction RPG
SoloMelee2DTacticalSci-Fi
Steam👍 94%· 6.2KIGDB88· 12OC86· 63
Year 2015Dev Image & FormOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi, while skipping precision platforming

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
RPGAction RPG
SoloMagicMeleeExploration2DPixel Art
IGDB92· 3
Year 1997Dev Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo · KonamiOn PlayStation 3

✓ Like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, it's known for deep RPG systems, precision platforming and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and horror setting, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

Below Kryll
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeExploration2DPixel Art
Steam👍 89%· 105
Year 2015Dev Team KryllPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, it's known for deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
RPGAction RPG
SoloMagicMeleeExploration2D
IGDB90· 1
Year 2001Dev Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe · Gradiente

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, precision platforming and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

BlazBlue Entropy Effect
RPGAction RPG
SoloMeleeAnime2DPixel Art
Steam👍 94%· 35KOC84· 14
Year 2023Dev 91ActPlaytime ~8hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, strong narrative focus and punishing difficulty, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Games like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

Rankings in the same genre

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse?
The closest game to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, scoring 92/100 on our similarity scale. They share 6 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and precision platforming. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Shantae and the Pirate's Curse?
The three closest games to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are: 1. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound (92/100, 6 shared attributes) 2. Viewtiful Joe (92/100, 4 shared attributes) 3. KAPITAL PUNISHMENT 22XX (92/100, 4 shared attributes). All share Shantae and the Pirate's Curse's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 48 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is Viewtiful Joe similar to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse?
Yes, very much so — Viewtiful Joe scores 92/100 similarity to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. They share 4 attributes, including deep RPG systems and precision platforming. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse?
The best RPG games similar to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Viewtiful Joe, KAPITAL PUNISHMENT 22XX and DAVE THE DIVER. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Shantae and the Pirate's Curse attributes like deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and precision platforming.
How is similarity to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse calculated?
We compare Shantae and the Pirate's Curse against every game in our catalog using 12 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Shantae and the Pirate's Curse experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.