Car Battler Joe is one of those weird little GBA gems that somehow blends RPG mechanics with Mad Max-style car battles. You start off with a beat-up ride and a handful of parts, and within minutes, you're tinkering with engines, slapping on armor, and figuring out whether machine guns or flamethrowers work better in the arena.

The combat’s surprisingly deep—you’re not just ramming into enemies but managing speed, positioning, and cooldowns. I remember my first fight ended with my car limping away on two wheels, half my weapons busted. The post-apocalyptic towns have this grimy charm, too, with shady dealers selling scrap and arena promoters hustling you into fights.

It’s got that classic early 2000s handheld vibe—rough around the edges but packed with personality. If you ever wanted a mix of Twisted Metal and a scrappy RPG, this is it.