Honkaku Hanafuda GB is one of those niche Game Boy Color gems that flew under the radar outside Japan. It's basically digital hanafuda—those traditional Japanese flower cards—but with a clean, no-frills presentation that nails the vibe of playing at a small izakaya table. The pixel art for the cards is surprisingly detailed, and there's something satisfying about the little sound effects when you slap down a winning combo.

At first, the rules might seem confusing if you're not familiar with koi-koi, but the game does a decent job easing you in. I remember fumbling through my first few matches before it clicked—now I can't stop chasing those bright monthly card sets. It's the kind of game you boot up when you want something thoughtful but not too demanding, like a solo tea break with built-in bragging rights.

Definitely worth a look if you're into retro Japanese oddities or just want to learn hanafuda without tracking down a physical deck.