Play Mr. Gimmick (EU) Online

Mr. Gimmick (EU) is one of those NES platformers that feels deceptively cute at first—until you realize how precise you need to be. You play as this little toy doll bouncing stars at enemies, and the way those stars arc and ricochet takes some getting used to. Miss your shot, and you’re stuck waiting for another one to form.

The hidden treasures in each level are brutal. You’ll spend way too much time trying to land perfect jumps on your own stars just to reach some out-of-the-way ledge, only to lose everything if you game over. The music and sprite work are charming, though, and there’s something satisfying about mastering the weird physics.

It’s a short game, but the real challenge is getting the good ending—which basically demands perfection. Mr. Gimmick (EU) doesn’t hold your hand, and that’s kind of the point.