Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart is that weird little GBA spinoff that never made it outside Japan—which is a shame, because it’s actually pretty interesting. Instead of just breeding monsters and battling, you’re leading a caravan across the map, managing supplies and recruiting townsfolk to join your crew. It’s got that classic Dragon Quest charm, but with this weird survival-ish twist where you’ve gotta keep an eye on food and morale.

At first, I thought the caravan mechanic would just be a gimmick, but it actually changes how you play. You can’t just grind forever—your party gets tired, hungry, and if you push too hard, they’ll straight-up leave. The monster recruiting is still there (of course), but now you’ve gotta balance them with human party members who have their own quirks. It’s janky in places, but there’s something oddly satisfying about making it to the next town with just enough supplies to keep everyone from mutinying.

If you’re into obscure Dragon Quest stuff, this one’s a neat little oddity worth digging up.