Play Warsong [Text Hack by D v20010219] [Graphic Hack by MIJET v20070103] (~Langrisser) Online

Warsong (or Langrisser, depending on where you played it) is one of those Genesis gems that somehow flew under the radar. You start off leading a ragtag group of knights and foot soldiers across grid-based battlefields, but don’t let the chunky sprites fool you—there’s some real depth here. The first time I sent my cavalry charging into a line of spearmen only to watch them get wrecked, I knew this wasn’t your average strategy game.

What makes it stick is how your heroes level up and recruit entire squads that fight alongside them. Early on, you’re just trying not to get your main guy killed, but by mid-game you’re juggling archers, mages, and mercenaries like some medieval general. The Urushihara character art (all flowing hair and dramatic poses) clashes hilariously with the tiny battle sprites, but it’s part of the charm.

Fair warning: the US version’s translation is… rough. You’ll get used to dialogue like “The enemy is defeat!” after a few battles. Still holds up if you’re into old-school tactical RPGs where one wrong move can ruin your whole afternoon.