Play Famicom Mini 17 : Takahashi Meijin no Bouken-jima Online

Famicom Mini 17: Takahashi Meijin no Bouken-jima—or Adventure Island, if you're not feeling fancy—is one of those games that somehow makes throwing axes at snails while riding a skateboard feel completely normal. It's the GBA port of the 1986 NES classic, and it hasn't lost any of its weird charm or "how did I just die to that?" frustration.

You play as Master Higgins, a guy who apparently skipped leg day but makes up for it by sprinting through jungles, caves, and beaches like his life depends on it (it does). The controls are simple—run, jump, throw stuff—but the levels get sneaky fast. One minute you're casually collecting fruit, the next you're getting ambushed by bats while your energy meter ticks down way too quickly.

What I love about this version is how faithfully it keeps the original's janky, punishing fun. No hand-holding, no tutorials—just you, some suspiciously mobile eggs, and the occasional power-up that turns your axe into fireballs (which, let's be honest, feels like cheating in the best way). The boss fights still make me yell at my screen, and the music is that perfect blend of cheerful and stressful.

If you've got a soft spot for games that don't care about your feelings, this one's a tiny time capsule worth cracking open.