Okay, so Nakayoshi Pet Advance’s hamster game is basically the digital equivalent of adopting a tiny, hyperactive fluffball. You start by picking out your hamster—there are a few breeds, and honestly, I just went with the one that had the dumbest little face. Then it’s all about keeping the thing alive: feed it, clean its cage, play with it before it starts sulking in the corner. The mini-games are simple but weirdly addictive, like this one where you have to balance seeds on a spoon while your hamster tries to knock them off.

The pixel art is super cute, all pastel colors and chibi animations. My hamster’s cage ended up looking like a chaotic toy store explosion because I kept buying those tiny hats and furniture sets. Pro tip: don’t skip the baths unless you want a grumpy, stinky blob refusing to interact with you. It’s the kind of game you play for 10 minutes and suddenly realize an hour’s gone by.

If you ever had one of those Tamagotchis as a kid, this is that vibe but with way more to do. Just don’t forget to save—I learned the hard way when my hamster ‘ran away’ after I ignored it for two days.