Derby Stallion Advance is one of those deep, weirdly addictive horse racing sims that Japan just does better than anyone else. You start off picking a foal—stats matter way more than looks, though I always go for the dumbest name possible—then train it up through races that actually feel tense when you're neck-and-neck in the final stretch. The breeding mechanics get surprisingly complex later, but early on it's just you, a green horse, and the desperate hope it doesn't faceplant at the starting gate.

It's got that classic GBA pixel charm, too—little jockeys bobbing like bobbleheads, crowds that actually react when you pull ahead. Plays great on emulators if you can't track down the cart.