B-Daman Bakugaiden V on the Game Boy Color is one of those weird little gems from the early 2000s that somehow makes marble battles feel intense. You’ve got these customizable B-Daman (basically tiny marble-shooting robots) with different stats and abilities—some hit harder, some reload faster, and figuring out which one suits your playstyle is half the fun.

The battles are surprisingly tactical for a GBC game. You’re not just spamming shots; you’ve got to time your reloads, watch your opponent’s patterns, and sometimes just pray your marble lands a lucky hit. The sprite work is chunky but charming, and the Japanese version has this over-the-top energy the localization probably would’ve toned down.

If you’re into obscure retro games or just miss the weirdly specific toy-based anime tie-ins of the era, this one’s worth a look. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand—some of those later stages get brutal.