Play Elysion (Japan) [En by Tenshigami v0.91] Online

Elysion is one of those weird, wonderful NES games that slipped under the radar—probably because it never left Japan until fans translated it. The first thing that hits you is the atmosphere: it’s like someone took Castlevania’s gothic vibe and filtered it through a surreal nightmare. You’ll slash your way through shadowy forests and crumbling castles, fighting off creatures that look like they crawled out of a messed-up fairy tale.

Combat’s simple but punishing—mistime a swing and those creepy bird-things will peck you to death in seconds. The fan translation (still a work in progress, but solid) helps unravel the cryptic story bits, though half the fun is just soaking in how bizarre everything feels. Boss fights are the highlight—each one’s a puzzle where you’re scrambling to dodge while figuring out their one dumb weakness.

It’s janky in that very NES way, but if you’ve got patience for retro quirks, there’s nothing else quite like it. The music alone—all eerie chimes and dissonant chords—sticks with you long after you turn it off.