Pokémon Perla on the DS is one of those games that just sticks with you. You start off in this cozy little town, pick your first Pokémon (I always go with Chimchar—fire types just hit different), and then boom, you're off exploring Sinnoh. The region feels huge, especially with all the hidden areas and those annoying but kinda fun HM puzzles.

The battles are where it really shines, though. You’ve gotta think about type matchups, movesets, and whether you want to evolve your team or keep ‘em cute. And don’t even get me started on the underground digging minigame—way more addictive than it has any right to be. If you’ve got a DS lying around, this one’s still worth a replay.