Play Quest of Ki, The (Japan) Online

Quest of Ki is one of those obscure Famicom gems that never made it overseas—which is a shame, because it’s a weird little puzzle-platformer with way more charm than you’d expect. You play as Ki, this tiny blue-haired girl who jumps around blocky dungeons, pushing rocks and dodging enemies that look like they escaped from a 1980s arcade cabinet.

The puzzles start simple—just figure out how to reach the exit—but later levels get sneaky with teleporters and switches. I got stuck more than once trying to remember which block I’d already moved. The controls feel a bit stiff at first (it is an NES game), but once you get used to the rhythm, there’s something satisfying about nudging everything into place.

If you’re into retro games with a quirky vibe, this one’s worth digging up—just don’t expect an English translation.