Play Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight - Lord of Paladin (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Ever played an RPG where knights pilot dragon mechs? Lord of Paladin is that weird, wonderful SNES game Japan kept to itself—and honestly, it’s a shame more people haven’t tried it. You start off choosing between these armored warriors (I went with the blue-haired guy because, well, ‘90s anime logic) and suddenly you’re thrust into grid-based battles where your dragon-riding paladins trade sword slashes and laser breath attacks.

The sprites are chunky and full of personality—like someone mashed up medieval tapestries with a mecha anime—and the music’s got those SNES synth horns that just go. Combat’s slower than modern tactics games, but there’s something satisfying about positioning your dragon knights just right to corner an enemy. Also, the dialogue’s all in Japanese, but the menus are simple enough to stumble through if you’ve played any Fire Emblem before.

It’s definitely janky in places (good luck figuring out some mechanics without a guide), but that’s part of its charm. If you’re into retro RPGs with bizarre concepts executed earnestly, this one’s a trip worth taking.