Hon Shougi is one of those classic Game Boy shogi games that feels like it was made for train commutes—simple, no-frills, but surprisingly deep once you get into it. The board’s tiny, sure, but after a few moves you stop noticing. It’s pure shogi, no tutorials or hand-holding, so if you’re new to the game, expect to lose a few pieces figuring out how promotions work.

What I like is how quick matches are—perfect for short sessions. The AI isn’t brutal, but it’ll punish obvious mistakes. And yeah, the graphics are basic (it’s Game Boy, after all), but there’s something satisfying about watching those little kanji pieces shuffle around. If you’ve got nostalgia for old-school handheld strategy, this one’s a solid pick.