Tenjin Oyasen: Mercenary Force is one of those Game Boy gems that makes you realize how much strategy you can cram into a tiny cartridge. You start off picking your squad—samurai, archers, cavalry—and right away, you’re thrown into these tight, grid-based battles where every move counts. Mess up your positioning, and suddenly your archers are getting shredded by enemy swordsmen.

The pixel art’s got that classic 90s charm, with little battle animations that somehow feel satisfying even now. And the music? That tinny Game Boy soundtrack somehow makes every victory feel epic. It’s not just about brute force, either—you’ve gotta think a turn or two ahead, baiting enemies into traps or flanking them before they can react.

Honestly, it’s the kind of game where you’ll lose track of time trying to perfect your strategy. If you’re into tactical RPGs, this one’s still worth a play.