BattleBots: Beyond The BattleBox on GBA nails that chaotic, clanging energy of the old TV show—just with way more pixels and way less actual danger. You start by slapping together a bot from parts that look like they were salvaged from a junkyard (in a good way), then throw it into these tiny arenas where everything’s flying apart within seconds. The controls are simple, but timing your spins and flips actually matters—ram into someone at the wrong angle, and suddenly you’re the one getting yeeted across the screen.

What surprised me was how much personality the bots have, even with the GBA’s limited graphics. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching your weird little creation finally land that perfect hit after getting wrecked three matches in a row. And yeah, it’s janky sometimes, but in that nostalgic early-2000s handheld way where the jank is part of the charm. If you ever yelled at the TV during the original show, this’ll hit the spot.