Grand Master is one of those obscure NES RPGs that never made it outside Japan, which is a shame because it’s got this weird, rough-around-the-edges charm. You start off as this lone warrior—sword in hand, no explanation—just hacking through monsters in a surprisingly moody overworld. The combat’s clunky but satisfying once you get used to it, and the dungeons have that classic "where the heck am I supposed to go?" vibe.

What really sticks with me is the music—haunting little chiptune tracks that feel way more atmospheric than they have any right to be. And yeah, it’s all in Japanese, but if you’ve played enough old-school RPGs, you can kinda muddle through. Just expect a lot of trial and error with menus.

It’s not perfect, but there’s something about its weird, lonely energy that makes it stick in your head.