Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is one of those DS RPGs that sticks with you—partly because it’s brutal in the best way possible. You’re part of a team sent into this weird, expanding void called the Schwarzwelt, which sounds sci-fi until you realize it’s packed with demons straight out of mythology. The first hour’s all eerie exploration, then suddenly you’re negotiating with a pixie for backup in turn-based fights where one wrong move gets your party wiped.

What I love is how it doesn’t hold your hand. The alignment system (Law, Neutral, Chaos) actually changes endings in big ways, and demon fusion is addictive once you figure out which skills carry over. The atmosphere’s thick with that classic SMT unease—dim corridors, unsettling music, and enemies that’ll wreck you if you’re careless. It’s not for everyone, but if you like RPGs with teeth, this one’s a gem.