Ganbare! Dodge Fighters is one of those GBA games that looks simple at first—just dodging stuff, right?—until you realize how brutal it gets after level 3. The pixel art has that chunky, satisfying arcade feel, and the controls are tight, which is good because you’ll be weaving through waves of projectiles like your life depends on it (it kinda does).

What I love is how it ramps up. Starts with slow-moving obstacles, then suddenly you’re threading needles between spinning blades while some tiny sprite laughs at you from the corner. There’s no story, no fluff—just you, your reflexes, and that itch to beat your last score. Perfect for quick sessions, though I’ve lost way too many bus rides to “just one more try.”

If you miss the days when games kicked your butt without apology, this one’s a pocket-sized time machine.