Sanrio Carnival on the Game Boy is this weird little gem where Hello Kitty and friends throw a party—except it's basically a mini-game collection with a pastel fever dream aesthetic. You've got stuff like balloon popping, memory matching, and a bizarre rhythm game where you tap buttons to Keroppi's offbeat croaking. It's not deep, but there's something charming about how janky some of the minigames feel, like they barely fit on the Game Boy's tiny screen.

First time I booted it up, I got stuck on the "catch falling sweets" game for way too long because the controls are just slightly laggy in that nostalgic, early handheld way. The music loops are short but weirdly catchy—you'll either love or hate the tinny renditions of Sanrio tunes. Honestly, it's more fun if you're into retro oddities than if you're expecting a polished experience.

If you ever wanted to see Hello Kitty fail at juggling, this is your chance.