Mendel Palace is one of those weird, underrated NES gems that never got the love it deserved. You play as Bon-Bon, a kid who gets sucked into a dream world where you flip tiles to knock out enemies—kind of like a mix between Puzzle Bobble and a brawler. The controls take a second to get used to (why is the B button X?), but once it clicks, you’ll be sliding and flipping tiles like a pro.

Each floor’s a grid, and enemies move in predictable patterns, so it’s all about timing. Mess up, and you’ll get swarmed fast. The art’s super colorful, almost like a Saturday morning cartoon, and the music’s got that classic NES charm—peppy, repetitive, and weirdly catchy. By the third stage, you’ll either be hooked or yelling at the screen when some goon respawns right on top of you.

It’s short but surprisingly tough, especially if you go for high scores. Definitely worth a play if you dig quirky puzzle-action hybrids.