Satomi Hakkenden is one of those deep-cut NES RPGs that never made it outside Japan, which is a shame because it’s got this weird, moody charm. Based on an old Japanese novel series, it plays like a mix of traditional turn-based combat and light strategy—you’ve got eight characters to swap in and out, each tied to a different moral virtue (yeah, seriously).

The first thing you’ll notice is how stiff the controls feel at first—typical early RPG jank—but once you get past that, the writing and atmosphere pull you in. The overworld’s got this washed-out, almost eerie look, and the music? Haunting in that classic 8-bit way. Not the most polished game, but if you’re into obscure Famicom stuff, it’s a neat little time capsule.

Just don’t expect a breezy playthrough—this one makes you work for it.