Ninja Taro is one of those Game Boy gems that nails that classic ninja vibe—pixelated shurikens, sneaky wall jumps, and those satisfying little shing sounds when your sword connects. You start off in this moody bamboo forest, figuring out how to pick off guards without getting spotted, and before long, you're diving into full-on boss fights against dudes twice your size.

The controls take a second to click—like, why does crouching feel so weird at first?—but once you get the rhythm of throwing knives and backflips, it just works. And the chiptune soundtrack? Absolute stealthy bangers. Some levels drag a bit (looking at you, cave maze), but the rush of clearing a room undetected makes up for it.

If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school action with a side of trial-and-error frustration, this one’s a solid time capsule.