Super Gomoku Narabe - Renju is one of those classic Japanese board games that feels simple at first—just drop stones on a grid, trying to line up five in a row—but gets surprisingly deep once you realize how much strategy is involved. The SNES version keeps things clean and straightforward, with smooth controls and a chill soundtrack that makes it easy to zone in for a few matches.

What I like is how the AI actually puts up a fight, especially in Renju mode where they enforce extra rules to balance things out. First time I played, I thought I had it figured out, but the computer pulled off some sneaky diagonal plays that wrecked me. The two-player mode’s solid too if you’ve got a friend who doesn’t mind getting outmaneuvered.

It’s not flashy, but if you’re into abstract strategy games, this one’s a hidden gem on the SNES.