Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is basically Pokémon but with that classic Dragon Quest charm—chunky, colorful monsters, goofy sound effects, and way more strategy than you'd expect. You start off shipwrecked on this weird island where everyone’s obsessed with monster battles, and next thing you know, you’re scouting creatures left and right with this funky little device. The first time I tried to recruit a Slime, it took like five attempts before the little blob finally joined me.

Battles are turn-based but way more tactical than they seem—monsters have different ranges for attacks, so positioning actually matters. And the synthesis system? Super addictive. Nothing beats the weird satisfaction of fusing two monsters into something completely new (even if half the time you end up with a glorified pile of goo). The 3D graphics were pretty slick for the DS, too—watching your team waddle around in battle never gets old.

If you’re into monster collectors but want something with a bit more meat than the usual fare, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t blame me when you lose hours trying to breed the perfect team.