Play Genso Maden Saiyuki (J)(WRG) Online

Game Overview

Genso Maden Saiyuki is one of those GBA games that makes you wonder why it never left Japan. You play as Sun Wukong—staff in hand, ready to bonk demons—but everything’s got this bright, almost cartoony look that somehow works perfectly. The first level throws you right into it: jumping between floating platforms, smashing weird little enemies that look like they escaped from a fever dream, and figuring out how far you can stretch Wukong’s moves before faceplanting into spikes.

The controls just feel good—no awkward lag when you swing your staff or dash mid-air. And the bosses? They start off silly (wait till you see the first one) but get legitimately tricky later. I got stuck on this one stage with disappearing bridges for way longer than I’d like to admit.

It’s short, maybe a weekend playthrough if you’re decent at platformers, but there’s something about the mix of classic Journey to the West vibes and snappy combat that sticks with you. Definitely a game for when you want action without a 50-hour commitment.