Sangokushi III on the Sega Genesis is one of those strategy games that feels like you're actually running a kingdom—messy politics, surprise betrayals, and all. You start by picking a warlord (I always go for Cao Cao because, let's be real, he's the scheming mastermind of the era), then it's all about balancing diplomacy, troop movements, and resource management while the AI factions constantly shift alliances.

The map's this gorgeous painted-style China, and battles play out in this weird but satisfying hybrid of turn-based and real-time—you give orders, then watch your little sprites clash while praying your cavalry doesn't get ambushed in the woods. Pro tip: ignore the manual's advice about always attacking. Sometimes the best move is bribing that annoying neighbor into leaving you alone while you build up rice stockpiles.

It's slower than modern strategy games, but there's something about the way events randomly trigger (like floods destroying your crops or officers suddenly defecting) that keeps every playthrough unpredictable. Just don't expect to "win" quickly—this is the kind of game where you lose three hours to micromanaging supply routes and love every minute of it.