Dragon Quest IX is one of those DS RPGs that just sticks with you. You start off as a fallen guardian angel—yeah, no joke—and have to rebuild your wings by helping people across this massive, charming world. The character customization is wild; you can make your whole party from scratch, picking classes like minstrels or warriors, and the gear actually shows up on your little chibi sprites. I spent way too much time dressing them up.

Combat’s classic turn-based stuff, but with this cool tension system where you can power up attacks if you’re patient. And the world? It’s packed with little stories—some silly, some surprisingly heartfelt. There’s even local co-op if you can find friends with copies (good luck in 2024). The whole thing just oozes that old-school Dragon Quest charm, but with enough tweaks to keep it fresh. Still holds up if you’re into slow-burn RPGs with personality.