Jajamaru Gekimaden is one of those weird, charming NES platformers that never made it outside Japan—which is a shame, because it’s got this oddball mix of ninja action and RPG elements. You play as this little frog dude (yeah, a frog) hopping through castles and forests, tossing shurikens at everything from samurai ghosts to floating eyeballs. The controls take a second to get used to—your jumps feel a little floaty at first—but once it clicks, there’s something satisfying about bouncing between platforms while enemies just… explode into coins.

What’s cool is how it doesn’t just stick to straight platforming. There’s this whole upgrade system where you collect scrolls to power up your attacks, and some levels have these maze-like sections where you’re hunting for keys. The music’s got that classic NES vibe too—chipper but slightly eerie, like it’s keeping one eye on the horror shelf. If you’re into retro games that do their own weird thing, this one’s a hidden gem. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand.