Baken Hisshou Gaku - Gate In is one of those weird, obscure NES titles that never made it outside Japan. It's a horse racing game, but not like any you've played before—more like a mix of strategy and gambling with a heavy dose of 80s Japanese charm.

You pick your horse, bet on races, and manage your stable, but there's this odd RPG-like progression where your jockey and horse level up over time. The pixel art is surprisingly detailed for an NES game, with these little victory animations that make winning feel oddly satisfying. First time I played, I blew all my money on a longshot that came in dead last—classic.

It’s definitely niche, but if you’re into retro sports sims or just want something different from the usual NES lineup, this one’s a curious time capsule.