International Superstar Soccer on Game Boy is one of those old-school sports games that somehow still holds up. The controls are simple—just a few buttons for passing, shooting, and sprinting—but the matches get surprisingly intense. You start off thinking, "Eh, it's just pixels," and then suddenly you're leaning into every shot, cursing when the keeper saves your perfect strike.

The animations are basic, sure, but there's something satisfying about that little pause before a goal, the way the crowd noise kicks in. And the AI isn’t a pushover—even on normal difficulty, defenders will close you down fast if you dawdle. I remember getting wrecked the first few matches until I figured out how to time through balls properly.

It’s not flashy, but if you’ve got a soft spot for retro sports games, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t expect fancy menus or licensed teams—it’s pure, stripped-down soccer fun.