World Tennis Stars on the GBA is one of those games that nails the fast, arcade-y feel of tennis without getting bogged down in realism. You pick from a roster of pros (some real, some fictional—I always went for the guy with the ridiculous backhand), and matches are quick, loud, and full of those satisfying *thwack* sounds when you nail a perfect serve.

The controls are simple—basically just timing your swings and aiming—but the AI actually puts up a decent fight once you move past the early rounds. I remember getting wrecked the first time I faced the final opponent because they kept lobbing shots just out of reach. Still, it’s the kind of game where you can pick it up for a quick match between classes or whatever and not feel overwhelmed.

Also, the pixelated crowd animations in the background are weirdly charming. They just kind of wiggle their arms no matter what happens. You’ll either love it or zone it out after five minutes.