NBA: In The Zone 2000 is one of those Game Boy Color sports games that somehow makes tiny pixelated players feel like they’ve got real weight to them. You’ve got all the basics—dribbling, passing, that satisfying little dunk animation—but what surprised me was how much the controls actually hold up. It’s not just button-mashing; you’ve gotta time your shots, watch for steals, and figure out which players work best for your playstyle (hint: guards are way faster, but good luck scoring inside with them).

The rosters are obviously dated now, but there’s something weirdly charming about playing with late-90s NBA lineups on a handheld. The colors pop, the sound effects are crunchy in that classic GBC way, and it’s just deep enough to feel like you’re actually making decisions, not just randomly jamming buttons. If you’ve got a soft spot for retro sports games, this one’s still a solid pickup-and-play option.