Gemfire on the NES is one of those weird, kinda obscure strategy games that somehow sticks with you. You start by picking a leader—each one's got their own vibe, from noble knights to shady warlords—and then it's all about conquering Isheria one territory at a time. The twist? You've got these six freed magicians backing you up, tossing spells around like it's nothing.

Battles are turn-based, but don't expect anything too slow—you're recruiting monsters, managing armies, and deciding whether to brute-force your way through or let magic do the heavy lifting. The first time I played, I went full "charge in with knights" and got wrecked by some wizard spamming fireballs. Lesson learned.

Oh, and thank god for battery backup—no scribbling down passwords for this one. It's got that classic NES charm, but with way more depth than you'd expect. Definitely a hidden gem if you're into old-school strategy.