Backyard Football 2006 on the GBA is basically what happens when you take NFL Blitz, shrink it down to kid-sized chaos, and throw in a bunch of weirdly charming characters. You’ve got Pablo Sanchez—the tiny legend—dodging tackles like he’s got rocket boosters in his sneakers, and the whole thing plays like a Saturday morning cartoon version of football.

First thing you’ll notice? The controls are stupid simple—just enough buttons to pull off jukes and passes without needing a manual. But don’t let that fool you. The AI actually puts up a fight, especially when you’re down by a touchdown with 30 seconds left. I lost a game because I got cocky and tried a Hail Mary with a kid who had the throwing power of a wet noodle. Lesson learned.

It’s got that classic Backyard Sports vibe—goofy celebrations, backyard maps with random junk lying around, and announcers who sound like they’re hyped on sugar. If you played this as a kid, it’s pure nostalgia. If not, it’s still a surprisingly solid football game that doesn’t take itself seriously. Just don’t underestimate Pete Wheeler’s speed.