Oh man, Sangokushi 2—this one's a deep cut if you're into classic NES strategy games. It's the Japan-only sequel to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, and honestly? Way better than the first one. You start off picking a warlord (I always go for Cao Cao—dude's ruthless) and then it's all about conquering China through diplomacy, battles, and some sneaky backstabbing.

The map's surprisingly detailed for an 8-bit game, with different terrain actually mattering when you march your troops around. First time I played, I got wrecked because I didn't realize mountains slow your army down. And the music? That tense, drum-heavy soundtrack still gets stuck in my head sometimes.

It's in Japanese, but if you've played any Koei strategy games before, you'll pick it up fast. Just don't expect fancy graphics—this is pure, spreadsheet-like strategy with just enough personality to keep you hooked. Still holds up if you're into slow-burn conquest games.