Ever played one of those old-school NES strategy games that makes you feel like a warlord plotting world domination? Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika—basically Genghis Khan’s conquest simulator—is exactly that. You start off with a tiny clan, scrambling to forge alliances or just straight-up conquer neighboring territories. The menus are all in Japanese, but after a few trial runs, you’ll get the hang of recruiting troops, managing resources, and deciding whether to marry off your daughters for political gain (yep, it’s that kind of game).

What’s cool is how unpredictable it gets—one minute you’re crushing enemies, the next, your own generals might rebel if you’re not careful. The pixelated battles are simple but tense, and there’s something weirdly satisfying about watching your little empire slowly paint the map. Just don’t expect hand-holding; this is the kind of game where you’ll lose a few times before figuring out the rhythm.

If you’re into deep, slightly janky retro strategy, this one’s a hidden gem. Just keep a translation guide handy.