NBA All-Star Challenge on the Game Boy is one of those early '90s sports games that somehow makes blocky pixel players feel like actual NBA stars. You pick your team—I always went with the East, no idea why—and suddenly you're tossing up jumpers with these little sprites that move way faster than you'd expect. The controls take a second to click, but once they do, you'll be pulling off behind-the-back passes and awkward-looking dunks that somehow still feel satisfying.

It's got that classic arcade basketball vibe where the ball physics are just slightly off, but in a way that makes every rebound chaotic in the best possible way. The crowd noise is basically just a few bleeps, and the players look like they're sliding more than running, but man, it works. If you've ever played any of those old-school NBA Jam-style games, this feels like their weird little handheld cousin.

Not gonna lie, it's janky by today's standards, but there's something weirdly charming about how hard it tries to be a full basketball sim on a tiny gray screen. You’ll either love it or wonder why you’re not just playing something newer.