Pokémon Puzzle League is basically Tetris Attack with a fresh coat of Pokémon paint—and honestly, that’s a great thing. You’re sliding colored blocks around to match three or more, but the twist is the frantic head-to-head battles where clearing combos sends garbage blocks to your opponent’s side. The anime voices (Ash, Misty, etc.) are hilariously over-the-top, and the 3D rotating board mode? That’s where things get properly chaotic.

First few rounds feel familiar if you’ve played panel puzzlers before, but the CPU ramps up fast—especially in the later cups. I got wrecked by Gary’s smug face more times than I’d like to admit. The music’s weirdly catchy too, like that Team Rocket remix that gets stuck in your head. It’s not just nostalgia bait; the gameplay holds up if you’re into competitive puzzle games that make your brain sweat a little.

Also, pro tip: Mewtwo’s stage theme slaps way harder than it has any right to.