Daikoukai Jidai is one of those old-school NES gems that flew under the radar outside Japan. It's a pirate-themed trading and naval combat sim where you start with a tiny ship and a handful of coins, trying to build your fortune across the seas. The first time I played, I blew all my money on spices in Lisbon only to find out nobody wanted them where I sailed next—lesson learned.

You’ll spend time hiring crew, upgrading cannons, and deciding whether to play it safe as a merchant or go full-on plunder mode. The combat feels clunky by today’s standards, but there’s something weirdly satisfying about lining up broadside shots while your crew shouts in Japanese. And yeah, the menus are all in Japanese, but after a few tries, you start recognizing the kanji for "rum" and "gunpowder."

It’s rough around the edges, but if you’re into retro strategy games with a pirate twist, this one’s worth digging up.