Play Pocky & Rocky (Europe) Online

Game Overview

Pocky & Rocky is one of those SNES games that somehow flew under the radar but absolutely shouldn’t have. You play as either Pocky, this tiny shrine maiden with surprisingly deadly aim, or Rocky, her tanuki partner who’s basically a raccoon-dog with attitude. The whole thing feels like someone took a classic arcade shooter and tossed it into a Japanese folktale—expect floating umbrellas, mischievous spirits, and giant frogs that really don’t want you around.

The controls are stupidly satisfying—you’ve got your rapid shots, a slide move that’s perfect for dodging attacks at the last second, and these screen-clearing magic spells that make you feel overpowered for about two glorious seconds. The pixel art’s gorgeous, too, all bright colors and weird little enemies that look like they stepped out of an old woodblock print.

Best part? Grab a friend for co-op and suddenly it’s twice as chaotic (and twice as fun). Just be warned: it’s harder than it looks, in that classic ’90s way where you’ll die a lot but keep mashing continue because you know you can do better. If you’ve got a soft spot for quirky action games, this one’s a no-brainer.