Pokémon Pearl was my first proper dive into Sinnoh, and man, it still holds up. You start in this sleepy little town, pick your starter (Turtwig gang forever), and before long you're knee-deep in tall grass hunting for Shinx and Starly. The region feels huge—snowy routes, creepy caves, even a haunted mansion if you're brave enough.

Battles are classic Pokémon—turn-based, with that satisfying rock-paper-scissors element to types. But the real magic is stumbling onto a wild Pokémon you’ve never seen before and scrambling to weaken it without KO’ing it. That first time I found a Gible underground? Pure adrenaline.

It’s got that DS-era charm, too—the pixel art pops, and the music slaps (especially the rival battle theme). Just don’t expect it to hold your hand—some of those gym puzzles will make you sweat. Sinnoh’s waiting, trainer.