Barcode World is one of those weird, obscure NES strategy games that never left Japan—and honestly, it’s kind of fascinating. You’ve got this grid-based battlefield where you summon units by scanning barcodes (yeah, actual barcodes from random products) with a special scanner peripheral. The first time I tried it, I grabbed a bag of chips just to see what would happen, and boom—out pops some weird little soldier unit.

It’s got that classic '90s tactical vibe where positioning matters, but the whole barcode gimmick makes it unpredictable. Sometimes you get a tank, sometimes you get… a weak foot soldier. Half the fun is just seeing what junk around your house summons the best units. The graphics are basic, but there’s something oddly satisfying about building an army out of grocery items.

Definitely a niche pick, but if you’re into oddball retro games, this one’s a trip.