Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV on SNES is one of those games where you blink and suddenly three hours have vanished. You pick a warlord—there are 38 of them, from famous ones like Cao Cao to random guys history barely remembers—and try to unify China through war, diplomacy, or just being sneaky. The isometric map makes everything feel chess-like, but way messier because your officers never quite do what you want.

Early on, you’re scrambling to secure food and gold while your neighbors eye your territory. I wasted so many turns trying to bribe enemy generals before realizing some just won’t betray their lords, no matter how much silver you throw at them. Sieges are brutal—catapults smash walls, crossbow towers pick off your troops, and if you’re not careful, some smug officer will lure your army into an ambush with a well-timed taunt. The AI isn’t afraid to exploit your mistakes.

What’s cool is how differently each playthrough goes. One game, I won by marrying my ruler to someone else’s daughter and inheriting their kingdom. Another time, I got stomped because I forgot to check the weather before sending my cavalry into a river. Classic.