Ganbaruga is one of those Game Boy games that feels like it should’ve been way more famous. You start off in this weird little maze—no tutorial, no hand-holding—just you, some pixelated monsters, and a sword that feels way too short at first. Took me a few tries to get the timing right on those diagonal slashes.

The graphics are surprisingly crisp for a Game Boy title, with these deep blues and greens that pop even on the original screen. And the music? That chiptune soundtrack sticks in your head for days. The real kicker is the hidden rooms—some are just dead ends with extra health, but others have these bizarre mini-bosses that come out of nowhere. Found one behind what looked like a totally normal wall and nearly jumped.

It’s tough, but not unfair. Once you get the rhythm down, swinging through corridors and baiting enemies into traps feels stupidly satisfying. Just don’t expect to beat it in one sitting.