Shining Force - Kamigami no Isan is one of those classic Sega Genesis JRPGs that still holds up. You start off leading a ragtag group of warriors—knights, archers, even a weird little robot guy—through grid-based battles that feel like a mix of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy. The sprites are chunky and charming, and the music? Absolute bangers.

What I love is how it eases you in. Your first few fights are simple, just shuffling units around to poke at goblins, but before long you're managing promotions, secret characters, and some surprisingly tough boss fights. The Japan-only version has a few extra quirks, like different character names and slightly tweaked mechanics. If you're into old-school tactical RPGs, this one's a must-play.

Also, pro tip: Don't sleep on the centaur knights—they carry hard in the early game.