Play Shikakui Atama o Maruku Suru. Advance : Kanji Keisan Online

Shikakui Atama o Maruku Suru. Advance: Kanji Keisan came out for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, developed by IE Institute. It was part of that wave of educational and puzzle games that found a solid home on the GBA, offering something a bit more thoughtful between action titles. The game doesn't try to be flashy; it's straightforward, built for players who want to engage their minds rather than test their reflexes.

You don't control a character so much as you manage a grid of numbers and kanji components. The main objective is to solve each puzzle by correctly combining these elements to form complete kanji, often within a set number of moves or under time pressure. Signature mechanics include breaking down complex characters into their radical parts and using arithmetic operations to reach target values, which often requires planning several steps ahead. The pacing is methodical, and the difficulty ramps up noticeably, making later puzzles a real test of memory and logic. It feels like a rigorous, satisfying mental workout where every correct answer brings a quiet sense of accomplishment.