Shining Force – Kamigami No Isan is one of those old-school tactical RPGs that just sticks with you. You start off recruiting a ragtag group of warriors—knights, archers, even a centaur—and slowly build them up through turn-based battles that actually make you think. The first time I played, I lost half my squad in the second fight because I underestimated how much positioning matters.

The pixel art still holds up, especially the little battle animations where your units clash swords or fire off spells. And the music? That Sega Genesis synth hits different—you’ll catch yourself humming the overworld theme days later. The story’s straightforward (evil’s rising, go stop it), but the characters give it heart, especially when they start bantering in camp between chapters.

It’s not as punishing as some strategy games, but don’t expect to breeze through either. You’ll get attached to certain units, then panic when they’re one hit from dying. Pro tip: Always keep a healer nearby. If you’ve got a soft spot for 90s RPGs with grid-based combat, this one’s a no-brainer.