Play Spore - Kimi Wa Tsukuru Hero (J) Online

I picked up Spore: Kimi Wa Tsukuru Hero for the Nintendo DS back in 2008, a Japan-exclusive spin-off from the Maxis team. It was a strange little title in an era where the DS was full of experimental, touch-focused games, and this one definitely leaned into that creative potential.

You control a creature you design from scratch using the stylus, drawing its body and defining its parts. The main goal is to guide your creation through various stages of evolution, solving simple puzzles and interacting with other beings on different 2D screens. Signature mechanics include using the touch screen to directly manipulate objects in the environment and engaging in light combat or challenges that affect your creature's development. The pacing is relaxed, more about playful experimentation than difficult obstacles. It feels like conducting a silly, personal science project where every odd choice pays off.