Play Honkaku Taisen Shougi Ayumu (Japan) Online

Game Overview

If you've ever tried shogi and bounced off because it felt like homework, Honkaku Taisen Shougi Ayumu might change your mind. It's got that classic Game Boy Color charm—bright, chunky sprites for the pieces, and this satisfying "clack" sound effect when you drop a captured piece back into play. The AI starts gentle but gets sneaky fast; I lost three matches in a row before realizing I needed to stop rushing my promoted gold generals.

What surprised me was how well it works on a tiny screen. No squinting at kanji—each piece has a clear icon, and there's even a handy move prediction highlight (which I ignored at my peril). It's not flashy, but there's something weirdly addictive about playing a proper, no-nonsense shogi game between bus stops. My only gripe? The cartridge battery save is finicky, so don't trust it with your 50-move masterpiece unless you like heartbreak.