Pokémon: Schwarze Edition is basically the German version of Pokémon Black, and if you’ve played any of the DS-era Pokémon games, you’ll feel right at home here. You start off in a cozy little town, pick your starter (I went with Snivy, but honestly, they’re all solid choices), and then it’s off to explore Unova—a region packed with new Pokémon and some surprisingly good sprite work for the DS.

The battles feel snappy, and the story actually tries something different this time—Team Plasma’s whole "liberate Pokémon" angle adds a weird moral twist you don’t usually see in these games. Plus, the animated sprites make fights way more lively than the static ones from older titles. By the time you hit the first gym, you’ll already have a decent little team going, and the grind doesn’t feel too brutal.

If you’re into Pokémon at all, this one’s a no-brainer. Just watch out for that one rival—they’re way more annoying than usual.