Play Chachamaru Boukenki 3 - Abyss no Tou (Japan) Online

Chachamaru Boukenki 3: Abyss no Tou came out for the Game Boy in 1991, developed by Irem. It was part of that wave of early handheld dungeon crawlers, the kind you’d play in short bursts between classes or on long car rides, with that distinct green-tinted screen and chunky, satisfying button presses. It never got an official English release, so most Western players discovered it through fan translations or sheer curiosity, drawn in by its mix of exploration and tactical combat.

You control a party of adventurers delving into a massive, multi-level tower, fighting monsters room by room and gradually mapping the layout. Your main goal is to reach the bottom of the abyss, but along the way you’re managing health, swapping equipment, and solving environmental puzzles. Combat is turn based, letting you choose attacks or spells for each character, and the difficulty can be punishing if you rush in unprepared. It feels methodical and tense, especially when your torch is flickering and you’re low on healing items, but there’s a real thrill in slowly conquering each new floor.