Okay, so The Hobbit on GBA is basically Bilbo’s awkward first adventure in 3D platformer form. You start off in the Shire, jumping over fences and dodging Sackville-Bagginses (annoying relatives, classic), and before long Gandalf drags you into a mess with dwarves and a dragon. The controls take a second to get used to—Bilbo’s not exactly nimble at first, but once you figure out the timing for climbing and sneaking, it feels pretty satisfying.

Combat’s simple—swing your little sword, throw rocks—but the real fun is exploring Middle-earth’s nooks. Some ledges are just out of reach until you unlock new abilities, so backtracking actually feels rewarding. And yeah, the graphics are blocky (it’s GBA, after all), but there’s charm in spotting familiar locations like Rivendell or Mirkwood, even if they’re pixelated. Just don’t expect deep lore—this is more about hopping on trolls’ heads than reciting Elvish poetry.

Oh, and Smaug’s level? Still stressful 20 years later.