Play Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (Japan) [En by J2e v1.3] (~Nadia - Secret of the Blue Water) Online

Game Overview

Oh man, Fushigi no Umi no Nadia—this NES game based on the old anime feels like stumbling into a secret club. You play as Jean, this awkward kid inventor, and Nadia, the girl with the weird blue pendant, running through steampunk cities and dodging pirates who look like they escaped from a Jules Verne novel. The first time I booted it up, I got stuck for like 20 minutes trying to figure out how to operate a submarine (hint: mash buttons until something happens).

The pixel art somehow nails the anime’s vibe—especially when you’re exploring the Nautilus and those chiptune renditions of the soundtrack kick in. It’s janky in that very 90s way where you’ll occasionally clip through walls or get murdered by scenery, but there’s charm in the chaos. If you’ve seen the show, spotting little references (like the lion king’s ridiculous hat) is half the fun.

Fair warning: the fan translation’s a bit rough—expect dialogue like “JEAN! HURRY UP THE EVIL IS COMING FASTLY.” But that just adds to the weird nostalgia. Grab some snacks and pretend it’s 1992 again.