Shingen the Ruler is one of those old-school NES strategy games where you take control of feudal Japan’s most famous warlord—Takeda Shingen—and try to conquer everything. It’s got that classic Koei vibe: part historical sim, part turn-based warfare, with just enough spreadsheet-like management to make you feel like a real daimyo.

At first, it’s a little overwhelming—you’ve got to manage armies, diplomacy, and even farming seasons. But once you get the hang of it, there’s something weirdly satisfying about outmaneuvering rival clans with a mix of brute force and sneaky alliances. The battles are simple but tense, and watching your territory slowly expand is oddly rewarding.

Fair warning: the controls take some getting used to (why did old NES games always map buttons so weirdly?), and the pacing is slow by modern standards. But if you’re into deep, methodical strategy with a historical twist, it’s a neat little time capsule from the era when games didn’t hold your hand.