Man, F.A. Premier League Stars 2001 on Game Boy Color takes me back. The pixelated kits, the chunky player sprites—it’s got that early 2000s football charm. You pick your squad from actual Premier League teams (well, as close as licensing allowed back then), and suddenly you’re sweating over whether to hoof it long or try dribbling past defenders with that weird diagonal movement.

Matches feel scrappy in the best way—slide tackles fly in, goalkeepers have those hilarious flailing animations, and the commentary is just text popping up, but somehow it works. First time I played, I lost 3-0 because I kept trying fancy through balls instead of just crossing. Lesson learned.

It’s not FIFA, but that’s the point. This is pure, janky retro football where the fun’s in mastering the quirks. Still holds up if you dig old-school sports games.