Play Hanjuku Hero (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Hanjuku Hero is this weird little gem from Square back when they were still experimenting with RPGs on the Famicom. You start off controlling these squishy, egg-shaped heroes (hence the name—"hanjuku" means half-boiled) in a turn-based strategy setup that feels like someone crossed Fire Emblem with a Saturday morning cartoon.

At first glance, it looks simple—just move your blob soldiers around a grid—but then you realize there's this whole layer of unit evolution where your guys can transform into wilder, stronger forms mid-battle. One minute you've got a basic sword guy, next thing you know he's morphed into a dragon or some absurd armored knight. The sprites are chunky and charming, and the whole thing has this playful vibe that makes the strategy parts feel less punishing than your typical SRPG.

It never left Japan, which is a shame because it's got that early Square quirkiness you don't see much anymore. If you can track it down, it's worth a play just for the bizarre unit designs alone.