Play Esper Dream 2 - Aratanaru Tatakai (Japan) [En by Aeon Genesis v1.0] Online

Esper Dream 2 is one of those weird, wonderful NES games that never left Japan—until the fan translation came along. You play as a kid with psychic powers, running around a world that feels like EarthBound’s weird cousin. The combat’s real-time, so you’re dodging enemies while blasting them with telekinesis or whatever bizarre ability you’ve picked up.

The dungeons are just the right mix of puzzle-y and chaotic, and the towns are packed with NPCs who say the kind of nonsense you’d expect from an ‘80s RPG. It’s got that classic 8-bit charm, but with a personality all its own. If you’ve ever wished Zelda had more psychic powers and talking animals, this is your game.

The translation makes it actually playable, too—no guessing what that shopkeeper was trying to sell you. Definitely a hidden gem if you’re into retro oddities.