Magi-Nation on the Game Boy Color is one of those hidden gems that feels like a mix between Pokémon and a proper RPG. You start off as this kid who gets pulled into the Moonlands—basically a world where everything runs on dream energy—and suddenly you're collecting creatures and dueling other Magi like it's no big deal.

The battles are way more strategic than they first seem. You don’t just throw creatures at each other; you’ve gotta manage your energy, pick the right elemental types, and sometimes just bail on a fight if your deck isn’t set up right. I remember getting wrecked early on because I didn’t realize some creatures straight-up counter others.

And the world? Super charming for a GBC game. The sprites have personality, the music’s got that classic handheld vibe, and the story actually goes places—none of that "beat eight gym leaders" formula. If you ever wanted a monster-collecting RPG with a little more meat to it, this one’s worth digging up.