The Shapeshifter 2 is an upcoming game for the Game Boy (Yup, you read correctly) that requires two cartridges to play. And it has already passed its Kickstarter goal.
Solo developer Greenboy Games has been keeping the spirit of the Game Boy alive by making indie games specifically for physical cartridges. The first Shapeshifter game was developed for both the Game Boy and NES. And now with about a month and a half to go the sequel, Shapeshifter 2, has raised over $57,000 on an initial goal of just under $7,000.
Dana Puch is the lone developer who has been running Greenboy Games since 2018. The Shapeshifter 2 is just the latest Game Boy-based game from the developer, but it's also set to be Greenboy Games' most ambitious.
"I'm very in love with the classic old school adventures like Monkey Island, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, The Dig, and [other] classic PC games," Dana told IGN. "And, of course, I'm deeply in love with the Game Boy. I have the entire collection of Game Boy games, so it's like the perfect match."
The website describes the game as, "an Old-School Adventure game, reminiscent of classics like 'Monkey Island', and is the first and only Game Boy game that requires 2 cartridges to play!"
The game takes inspiration from choose-your-own-adventure novels, in which the story can greatly change depending on your choices. In this game, the choice the player makes may require them to swap out the cartridge to continue the story. There is also a 'ROM Only' tier in which two separate ROM files replace the individual Game Boy carts.
Dana notes the game is still in the early stages of development. You can check out a trailer for the game on Kickstarter.
There's plenty of love for Nintendo's old handhelds over on Kickstarter right now. Goodboy Galaxy, an upcoming Metroidvania for GBA, smashed its Kickstarter goal. And, a Game Boy Color game will finally see the light of day after decades of development hell.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.