Play Tensai Bakabon Online

Tensai Bakabon came out on the Game Boy in 1990, developed and published by Namco. It was a time when handheld games often took chances on strange licenses, and this one fit right in with its offbeat, comedic source material. You don't see many games based on gag manga, especially ones this committed to the bit.

You control the father, Papa Bakabon, through a series of disconnected, surreal mini-games. The main objective is simply to complete each bizarre scenario, which might involve catching fish with your bare hands, dodging watermelons thrown from off-screen, or navigating other nonsensical challenges. The gameplay is screen by screen, with each new screen presenting a fresh, often frustrating puzzle of timing and reaction. The difficulty can spike without warning, making some sections feel more like trial and error than skilled play. It feels like participating in someone else's very silly, very confusing dream.