Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun is one of those weird, charming Game Boy gems that never made it outside Japan. You play as this kid with a straw hat who gets tangled up in some bizarre island adventure—think tropical vibes mixed with goofy enemies and dialogue that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The gameplay’s a mix of platforming and light RPG elements, with these little turn-based battles that pop up when you bump into enemies. At first, I wasn’t sure if the combat would feel too slow, but the overworld exploration and quirky characters kept me hooked. And the sprite work? Surprisingly expressive for a Game Boy title.

Definitely one for fans of offbeat ‘90s Japanese games—just don’t expect a deep story or anything. It’s more about the vibes.