Dragon Quest IX on the DS is one of those RPGs that just sticks with you. You start as a fallen guardian angel—yeah, no kidding—and have to rebuild your wings by helping people across this massive world. The job system is killer; you can switch between classes like warrior or mage anytime, and mixing skills leads to some wild combos.

What really got me was the local co-op. Back in the day, you could team up with friends and tackle dungeons together, which was rare for a DS game. The alchemy system’s addictive too—spent way too much time mixing random junk to see what new gear popped out. And the postgame? It’s basically a whole second adventure with insane bosses.

It’s got that classic Dragon Quest charm, but with enough twists to feel fresh. Still holds up if you can track down a copy.