Play Zoid's Saga II (J)(Mugs) Online

Game Overview

Zoid's Saga II (J)(Mugs) is one of those GBA games that slipped under the radar outside Japan, which is a shame because it’s basically Advance Wars with giant robot animals. You start by picking your squad—I went with a mix of fast, lightweight Zoids and one hulking tank-type, because why not?—and then it’s straight into grid-based battles where positioning matters just as much as firepower.

The sprites are surprisingly detailed for a GBA title, especially when your Zoids unleash their special attacks. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a mechanical T-Rex fire a laser from its mouth while your opponent’s mech crumples into scrap. The menus are all in Japanese, but after a fight or two, you’ll get the hang of upgrading parts and tweaking loadouts even if you can’t read a word of it.

If you’ve got a soft spot for turn-based strategy or just really miss the early 2000s mecha craze, this one’s worth tracking down. Just don’t blame me when you lose an hour fine-tuning your perfect Zoid team.