Balloon Kid is one of those weird little Game Boy gems that sticks with you. You play as Alice, floating through these bright, bouncy levels holding onto balloons—which sounds cute until you realize how easy it is to pop them on spikes or get snagged by enemies. The controls take a second to get used to—you’re not just jumping, you’re managing air pressure, so tapping the button just right keeps you afloat without sending you into the ceiling.

The music’s got that classic Game Boy chirpiness, and the levels get surprisingly creative. One minute you’re dodging birds in a sunny sky, the next you’re squeezing through tight caves where one wrong move means starting over. It’s tougher than it looks, but in that satisfying way where you keep saying "one more try." If you’ve ever played Balloon Fight, it’s like that but with a proper adventure mode. Definitely a hidden pick if you’re into retro platformers with a twist.