Higemaru Makaijima is one of those weird, charming NES games that never made it outside Japan—which is a shame because it's got this quirky mix of action and puzzle-solving that just sticks with you. You play as this kid stranded on an island, chucking barrels at pirates like some kind of tiny, vengeful dockworker. The controls are simple, but figuring out how to angle your throws just right to take out enemies or solve environmental puzzles? That’s where the real fun kicks in.

The whole thing has this goofy, slightly surreal vibe—like why are there so many pirates, and why do they all look like they’ve had one too many grogs? The music’s catchy in that 8-bit way, and the levels get surprisingly tricky once you hit the later islands. If you’re into retro games with a side of “wait, what am I even playing?”, this one’s a hidden gem. Just don’t blame me when you start seeing barrels in your dreams.