Kirby's Dream Land 2

A pink ball that swallows an enemy and steals its ability — players already knew that from Kirby. What they didn't expect, though, was a gang of animal friends who can turn that single ability into dozens of brand-new ones. Kirby's Dream Land 2 took the proven idea and cleverly multiplied it.

The key novelty is three animal companions: Rick the hamster, Kine the fish, and Coo the owl. Each of them changes how Kirby's copied abilities work. The same fire ability behaves completely differently when you ride Rick, swim with Kine, or float with Coo — and from the ability-plus-animal combinations arises a whole array of variants that invite experimentation. What was a simple "swallow and imitate" mechanic became a surprisingly rich toy.

It was directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the same creator who would later spawn the phenomenon Super Smash Bros. His signature shows in the thoughtful yet accessible design — the game can be cute and welcoming at first glance, but beneath the surface it hides depth for those who want more.

And it's precisely for them that the true ending exists. It's available only to whoever collects all the so-called Rainbow Drops, hidden in hard-to-reach places across the worlds. Suddenly you have a solid reason to search every level thoroughly, not just run to the exit. This layer of collecting gives the otherwise undemanding game unexpected replayability.

On the monochrome Game Boy, Dream Land 2 also excels in craftsmanship — readable graphics, pleasant pacing, and that unmistakable Kirby serenity that makes playing a balm for the nerves. It's a platformer that doesn't want to punish but to reward curiosity and play.

Why play it: A cute platformer with unexpected depth, where the combinations of abilities and animal companions and the hunt for the true ending give you a reason to come back again and again.