Play Shougi Meikan '93 (Japan) Online

Ever tried shogi? It's like Japanese chess, but way more brutal—pieces can switch sides, and pawns can become unstoppable monsters if you're not careful. Shougi Meikan '93 nails that feeling perfectly, even on the NES. The AI doesn't mess around—I lost my first five games in under ten moves before I realized I needed to actually think ahead.

No fancy graphics or tutorials here, just clean, old-school shogi. The board looks like something you'd find in a smoky Tokyo parlor, and the moves snap with this satisfying click sound. It's one of those games where you'll stare at the screen for five minutes, make one move, then immediately regret it. If you're into strategy games that don't hold your hand, this one's a quiet little brain-burner.

Fair warning: your first few matches will probably feel like getting schooled by a retired salaryman in a back-alley game parlor. But that's part of the charm.