Columbus - Ougon no Yoake is one of those weird, obscure NES games that never left Japan—which is a shame because it's actually kind of a hidden gem. You play as this little explorer dude (Columbus, obviously) who's basically Indiana Jones-ing his way through ancient ruins, dodging traps and grabbing treasure. The controls are a little stiff—this is an old NES game—but once you get used to it, the platforming feels pretty satisfying.

What makes it stand out is the mix of puzzle-solving and action. Some rooms have these weird gimmicks, like moving platforms or switches you gotta hit in the right order, and figuring them out feels rewarding. The music’s also surprisingly catchy for an 8-bit game, especially the dungeon themes. Just don’t expect a deep story—it’s all about the treasure hunt.

If you’re into retro games that didn’t get the spotlight back in the day, this one’s worth a look. Just be ready for some classic NES jank.