Virtual Chess 64 is one of those N64 games that makes you go, "Wait, chess looks this good now?" The pieces have this weirdly satisfying weight to them—knights actually gallop when they move, and pawns clunk into place like little metal soldiers. It’s chess, but with just enough flair to make you forget you’re staring at a board for half an hour.

They nailed the difficulty curve, too. The AI doesn’t just roll over for beginners, but it won’t crush you in three moves unless you crank it up. I remember losing a bishop early to what I thought was a dumb mistake, only to realize the CPU had set a trap five turns ahead. Sneaky.

If you’ve got an N64 and even a passing interest in chess, this one’s a no-brainer. Just don’t blame me when you start hearing pawn footsteps in your sleep.