Okay, so Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children: Messiah Riser is basically what happens if you took Pokémon and gave it a shot of gothic horror and caffeine. You play as these kids who can recruit demons—not just catch ‘em, but actually negotiate with them mid-battle. Some want items, others just wanna argue philosophy before joining your team. Weirdly charming.

The pixel art’s got that classic GBA vibe, all moody purples and reds, and the battles actually make you think. You can’t just spam attacks—enemies hit hard, and if you don’t exploit weaknesses or buff your party, you’ll get wrecked fast. First time I fought a boss, I got flattened because I didn’t realize my fire demon was useless against ice. Lesson learned.

Story’s got that SMT flavor too—less “save the world,” more “survive the apocalypse while making questionable moral choices.” If you’re into RPGs that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a hidden gem. Just don’t expect your demon pals to be cute. Most of them look like they’d eat your soul if you forgot to feed them.