does the game i make have to be a 2d side scroller or can it be something like a visual novel puzzle game?

As long as it respects the concept of backtracking to acquire new items to interact with the environment, no matter the view aspect or gameplay, it can be considered as a metroidvania. I do wonder how it could fit with a VN, but I'm down for creative uses of the genre!

ok!

when i say VN, i mean kind of like a cross between a VN and a Telltale Games type game