F-1 Spirit on the Game Boy is one of those racers that feels way faster than it has any right to be. The tracks are tight, the AI is aggressive, and that little car somehow gives you the illusion of speed even with the Game Boy’s tiny screen. You’ll spend the first few races just trying not to spin out on the turns—until you realize feathering the D-pad is the secret to not eating wall.

The upgrades actually matter here, too. Save up enough cash between races and you can tweak your engine or tires, which makes a noticeable difference when you’re fighting for pole position. And yeah, the music’s got that classic 8-bit energy—you’ll be humming it after a couple laps.

It’s not the prettiest racer now, but back in the day, this was as close as you could get to Formula 1 in your pocket. Still holds up if you’re into old-school challenge.