Pokémon Black on the DS is one of those games that just feels fresh, even if you've played earlier entries. You start off in Unova, this time with all-new Pokémon—no old favorites at first, which threw me off at first, but it actually makes discovering new creatures way more exciting. The battles are classic turn-based, but the animated sprites give them way more life than before.

The story’s got some actual weight to it, too—Team Plasma’s whole "liberate Pokémon" angle makes you think a little, which is rare for the series. And the gym leaders? They actually show up outside their gyms, doing stuff in the world. Feels less like they’re just waiting around for you to show up.

Oh, and the seasons change every real-world month, so routes you’ve been through before might suddenly have new paths or hidden areas. It’s a small touch, but it keeps exploration interesting. Definitely one of the stronger Pokémon games if you’re into the DS era.