Madden '96 on Game Boy is one of those "how did they fit football in here?" kind of ports. You’ve got tiny sprites charging down a pixelated field, but somehow it still feels like football—just squint a little. The playbook’s trimmed down, obviously, but you’ve still got enough options to fake a handoff or go deep if you’re feeling bold.

Controls are simple (d-pad and two buttons, come on), but don’t expect Madden '23 physics. Players slide around like they’re on ice sometimes, and the AI’s either brain-dead or psychic—no in-between. That said, there’s something weirdly satisfying about grinding out a 4th-quarter drive in monochrome. Nostalgia’s doing most of the heavy lifting here, but if you’ve got a soft spot for janky old sports games, it’s a fun time killer.

Just don’t expect to see Jerry Rice’s face in those 8-bit graphics.