Play This Set July 2026
Play This Set is a showcase for our passionate community members to write about the games and achievement sets they love. Our inbox is always open, whether you're an achievement developer looking to promote your work or a player wanting to spread the word about your favorite hidden gem. If interested, submit your write-up as a private message to {% rauserpic RANews %}.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 ~Hack~ Waluigi's Taco Stand |
Nintendo 64 | 3D Platforming |
- Set by: {% rauserpic tiredlyrebird %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic Frenchy70 %}
I first heard about this hack and Kaze Emanuar in 2018 when watching the YouTuber SimpleFlips play the game in a video. My first impressions were “how did they make SM64 be this different?” So finally playing it years later for CL2 and after playing Kaze’s future hacks, I can say it’s great for the era it was released in, and mostly holds up today.
The game has you play as Waluigi working to pay his rent after losing all his money gambling. You take an order, and then are sent to an area to go collect the ingredients needed. Once you have them, you exit the level to serve the taco. If you get it wrong, you just have to try again for the right ingredients. Stage 3 had some head scratchers for me to figure out how to get the new ingredients, but it was fun trying to figure them out. The final area is only 1 order, but it’s very buggy / jank due to Dorrie going through sections of the rock platforms and even softlocking you by trapping Mario against the rocks.
The set is fairly simple and complements the game well. There are speedrun achievements for each of the three areas of the game, and a fairly lenient, limited damage challenge achievement for the final area. The game saves automatically after each order, so the game is easy to master as you go along, and even easier to beat. It’s a fairly quick experience, with the average beat clocking in at less than an hour.
In conclusion, it’s a great period hack to show that different gameplay styles are possible within the SM64 engine, with a simple enough set to walk away with a festive Waluigi to proudly display on your wall.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Looney Tunes: Space Race |
Dreamcast | Kart Racing |
- Set by: {% rauserpic TeddyWestside %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic Kecleon352 %}
What a variety of games landing underneath the wide umbrella of Looney Tunes. From 2D platformers to 3D collect-a-thons, sports games, board games, minigame collections, and of course racing games. And while Looney Tunes Racing is there for your standard kart racing needs, I really want to point out this output from the next generation.
Never have I played such a slippery controlling game that led to some of the most chaotically fun racing experiences I've had on RA. Riding on literal rockets, the course ends up turning into a mostly loose suggestion to keep to while being able to bob and weave along, all while picking up objects that are solely to strike down your opponents. And what of the boosts? That all depends on picking up the nitro cans littered about the field, which adds a rather unique strategy to optimizing your route to collect boosts and keep ahead.
With multiple characters to play as, several mission races to play on the side that will test you, and an overall fun presentation, this is an easy recommendation, especially with the rather straightforward achievement set on display here.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Eien no Filena |
SNES/Super Famicom | Turn-Based RPG |
- Set by: {% rauserpic EulerMoises1981 %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic pengboy08 %}
For Month 71 of The Unwanted, I played the game Eien no Filena, translated as Eternal Filena. I had no knowledge or expectation going into this game; if it wasn't for the event, I probably never would have heard of it or tried it, but I'm glad I did. The game is based on a very popular Japanese light novel of the same name, from which the story is a direct copy, with small changes made due to the differences between a book and a video game. And let me tell you, the story is very good; now, it's not Lord of the Rings level of good, but I was looking forward to each scene and seeing where the story would go next.
The basic premise is that you play as Filena, the last surviving princess of the kingdom of Filosena, which was destroyed decades ago by the Devis Empire. Despite being a girl, you were raised as and disguised as a boy gladiator fighting in a colosseum for the empire's amusement. This gender disguise is used for many enjoyable moments in the game. The interactions between the different characters are a delight, especially between Filena and her wife Lila, whom she won as a reward in the gladiator pits. I enjoyed every interaction that took place between them throughout the game.
As far as JRPGs go, this one is on the easy side; most of the game gave me little trouble, with only the surprising difficulty spike of the final boss giving me any issues. It's also a short JRPG, able to be mastered in around 15 to 20 hours. This is an old Super Famicom game that was only ever available in Japan, but thankfully an English translation exists. It has a lot of jank and poor UI designs of the time. For example, to save the game, you must open your party using the B button, press the L or R buttons to change to the inventory screen, and select the diary page. At no point is any of this explained. The game has multiple mechanics that are never once mentioned or explained due to them being written in the manual (which is in Japanese), and the game assumes you will have read it. The game also has unfinished content, such as a scrapped crafting mechanic that, while not in the game, all the different materials for it are and do nothing.
The combat itself is a fairly standard SNES JRPG. All skills and items don't tell you what they do in battle; you have to look at them in the menu out of battle and remember what they do, which is hard when some of the descriptions don't really tell you anything. There is a weapon switching mechanic allowing you to have 3 different character setups equipped at once, though this is never explained in-game and is fairly consistent with the JRPGs of the time. If you played old Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy games, you will instantly understand Filena's. There are some missable achievements, especially in the early game. Once you progress the story, you can't return to previous areas, locking you out of several achievements, so keep that in mind while playing.
Despite all this jank, I genuinely enjoyed my 16 hour-long time with this game. Everything I just listed is a minor issue, really easy to look past and ignore for the most part. While not the best JRPG on the SNES, it is a genuine hidden gem that I doubt most have heard of due to its Japanese exclusivity. If you're in the mood for an old JRPG, I highly suggest you give it a try; trust me, you won't be disappointed.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Crystal Defenders R1 |
Wii | Tower Defense |
- Set by: {% rauserpic MelodyAsh %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic authorblues %}
I love tower defense games, though I don't often seek them out. I got really into Bloons TD 6 for a bit a few years ago, and when I saw that the Wii rollout included Bloons, I was excited (and then immediately disappointed when I discovered what Bloons was).
Then I caught my buddy {% rauserpic WanderingNewbie %} playing Crystal Defenders R1, and I instantly saw the vision. This game is a bit simple. By the end of it, you only have eight classes (towers) to work with, but as has been the case with Final Fantasy spinoff games, I assure you dear reader, this one has the juice. The concept is simple, but the way you can combine and synergize a strategy has a little more complexity than you might expect (not that other tower defense games haven't tread this path a hundred times before).
It's a short game. In fact, you can beat this game in a few hours, tops. Mastery too, probably. But what {% rauserpic MelodyAsh %} has done with the set is really impressive. I'm an RA set developer myself, and more than a few times I thought to myself "I would be nervous giving this challenge to the player, because it's really difficult". Now, as a developer, I know how players can get. Some of you read that and thought "I would never play a set that challenges me to do things", and I hear you, but let me tell you, the thrill I felt solving some of these challenges -- you can't get that sort of feeling anywhere else. That is what makes RetroAchievements so special! It transformed a light, strategic tower defense game into a full-blown puzzle experience.
This set stands out in my mind as probably one of my favorites from the Wii rollout. By the time you read this, maybe {% rauserpic MelodyAsh %} will have completed and released the set for Crystal Defenders R2. If so, believe me that it was (or will be) a day one play for me. And it should be for you too.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Super Adventure Rockman |
PlayStation | Interactive Movie, Rail Shooter |
- Set by: {% rauserpic voiceofautumn %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic Molson %}
For The Unwanted, the players were asked to look at the hub of past games featured in the event for games to recommend. An opportunity to let a lesser known gem get a chance at shining like it should! What an amusing little stroll down memory lane, like opening a chest full of old toys.
One such game caught my eye, an old little bijou I had completely forgotten was part of this event. Super Adventure Rockman is an old Mega Man game that combines the "choose your own adventure" style of storytelling with rail shooting style stages. For the best experience, I recommend using a turbo button. Consider using DuckStation to help with disk save files, allowing you to keep your weapons from the previous disk.
Cheers!
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Car Battler Joe |
Game Boy Advance | Vehicular Combat |
- Set by: {% rauserpic voiceofautumn %}, {% rauserpic Blazekickn %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic gamerforlifeforever %}
A while back I remembered a GBA game I’d seen on various hidden gem videos on YouTube and gave it a shot. That game was Car Battler Joe. It’s a vehicular combat game with RPG mechanics. Recently I found out that it was part of The Unwanted event at one point, which is interesting, though at the same time surprising, because I thought there would’ve been plenty of interest in a game like this, but clearly I was wrong.
In Car Battler Joe, the main bulk of gameplay involves you taking on various jobs, collecting car parts and various abilities, and finding materials to help out various towns and upgrade your garage. While your car starts out slow and lacks maneuverability, eventually you’ll find that there’s a ton of customization here for a GBA game. Combat starts off very easy due to poor AI, but the difficulty definitely starts to ramp up in the late game.
The story is probably the weakest aspect of the game due to certain characters not getting fleshed out at all. It felt like the writers were coming up with too many ideas, but didn’t have enough time to properly put them in place. It’s still a fun game despite story weaknesses.
Overall, Car Battler Joe is a game I think people should give a shot if they’re into games like Twisted Metal or like games that have a unique blend of genres you won’t find anywhere else.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Wonder Trek |
PlayStation | Action-Adventure |
- Set by: {% rauserpic Layton %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic Snorkimon %}
I played this game for The Unwanted event, where it was recommended by fellow retro-gamer {% rauserpic PepeJohn %}. It's unlikely I would have played it otherwise, and I'd be missing out on a fantastic experience. True to its name, this is a wonderful, wonderful game! It’s one of the best I’ve ever played, and the set by {% rauserpic Layton %} does it full justice. Wonder Trek is an NTSC-J PlayStation exclusive, but there is a top-notch English translation by Chapu, thanks to which everybody can now enjoy this hidden gem.
The game is set on a mysterious island where animals believed extinct have retreated for survival. It's a bit reminiscent of Jurassic Park, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. You play as Nick, the assistant of Professor Favreau. Together, they are sent to the island to look for a fellow zoologist, Professor Amedeo, who has gone missing in search of a Phoenix egg. Soon after crash-landing your plane onto the island, you realize that the animal sanctuary has been discovered and invaded by unscrupulous poachers.
The story is mostly linear, but with twists and turns, and it is truly unforgettable. It really resonated with me, and it will stay with me for a long time. The gameplay is fun as well; not too challenging, but not trivial either. There's action, exploration, platforming, puzzle-solving, and plenty of fun boss fights. The main protagonists, Nick and the Professor, are goofy and cool at the same time, and reminded me of two characters from an old Czech cartoon: Pat a Mat. I loved the way the professor rushes to inspect everything – be that crocodiles, deadly traps, or other dangerous stuff – and you must keep an eye on him at all times so that he doesn’t get lost or into trouble (and you with him).
The set by {% rauserpic Layton %} is very well done, and I had no problem at all with the unlocks. There’s plenty of missable achievements, but that’s just part of the game. Rescuing all the animals will reward you with the full ending, which is beautiful. Post completion, you can visit an ark housing the animals you found, where you can read about them and how they became extinct in the real world. I managed to find them all without following any guide, even though I almost missed the Dodo. Thankfully, the badge for What Do You Do provides a welcome hint on where to look... the real problem is “when”.
It is almost criminal that this set still has fewer than 100 players, even after being featured in The Unwanted, and I hope this post will bring it the visibility it deserves.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Shining Wisdom |
Saturn | Action Adventure |
- Set by: {% rauserpic Alfex %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic EphemeralEnigmas %}
I have a lot of love for Zelda-like games on Sega platforms. Every single one I can think of offers something distinct and exciting; Beyond Oasis has a cool beat 'em up battle system, Landstalker has its isometric platforming focus, Elemental Gimmick Gear is what I like to call an audiovisual masterpiece, and Crusader of Centy has a plot that goes to surprisingly bold places. All these games get their flowers as they should, but poor Shining Wisdom never gets the affection it deserves despite being on their level in its own inspired way.
It is the odd one out when it comes to Shining games on the Sega Saturn, though. Shining Force III and Shining the Holy Ark are simply too high of bars to clear! Give it a chance despite that, though, and you'll find one of the weirdest and most interesting takes on the Zelda formula ever made. The defining trait of Shining Wisdom is speed. Rather than a simple run button, you have to tap the B button several times to build up speed, which you can then hold down like a car's gas pedal to stay at your desired level of acceleration until you need to slow down again. It's a very strange system, and while I personally enjoy it as a unique way of using controls to emulate exertion, it's unfortunately not conducive to those with repetitive strain injuries, so it can be a tough sell. But us RA users have a nice advantage over original hardware users: we can just make the B button a turbo button, which makes the game much more approachable!
Once you learn to live with/work around the tapping and get through the game's oddly slow opening moments, it opens up into something truly great. As you collect new items such as the Slide Shoes and magic orbs to modify their properties, you can travel the world and fight enemies in increasingly creative ways. Mixing Slide Shoes with the Freeze Orb, for example, attaches a huge icicle to your feet, letting you slide super far and defeat anything in your path without having to stop. Magic Hands (boxing gloves that can be launched at enemies) can cast various magic spells, as can your winged helmet. Combining the Spring Shoes with the Gale Orb lets you leap across multiple screens! If you keep experimenting, you can play this game without even using your sword that often! The further you get into Shining Wisdom, the more its mobility options let you break it wide open, and by the time you hit the endgame, traveling the world for anything you missed is a simple task because you're effectively a speed freak god among men.
The dungeons are laid out like Zelda dungeons, but instead of exclusively revolving around particular items, they more often revolve around general mobility puzzles. Challenges include things like running across floors as they break apart, using a Monkey Suit in conjunction with Stone Shoes to climb a giant tree, crossing gaps safely, carrying a statue to the top without losing it, coping with reversed controls under pressure, and charting the correct paths to fly over before your winged helmet runs out of gas. Not only does the speed focus prevent any individual dungeon from ever dragging on, it also prevents the game from falling into a repetitive formula. As much as I enjoy Zelda games, I do find that they can get overly predictable at times, so Shining Wisdom being the kind of game that never once falls into conceptual complacency is such a boon in its favor.
The game's achievement set is honestly very barebones (more speedrun challenges would have been a natural fit), but it does at least require you to find every single item the game tracks for its completion percentage, which is the minimum it needed to do to be additive to the experience. Shining Wisdom is a game chock full of weird and well hidden secrets, and the achievements encourage players to seek those things out and enjoy them, something many players at the time of the game's release likely didn't get to do. These secrets aren't as well-documented as you'd think! Hidden caves carry treasures ranging from health upgrades to a judo uniform that lets you throw enemies sky high. You can find a secret shop with pajamas that heal you fully if you find the time to sleep, effectively making you immortal. Multiple optional dungeons exist with unique gimmicks that don't appear in the main story. Clever challenges expect you to find platform paths that span portions of the game's map. Some upgrades are hidden in old dungeons, making them relevant beyond their initial story purpose. You can even find a toy version of the Daytona USA car that you can ride around in! Simply running around in this world is so much fun (the prog rock soundtrack also helps with that!), and slowly unraveling its mysteries is so satisfying in a way that very few similar games can match for me.
I've always felt that Shining Wisdom never got the respect it deserves, so I'd be happy if even one person gives it a chance because of this write-up. It's such a fun and fascinating take on Zelda, and I've never seen anything quite like it since. If you're the type who likes having to dig to discover a game's true colors, you may just love Shining Wisdom as much as I do. I wouldn't be surprised if it being localized by Working Designs scares people away, but don't let that intimidate you; the game is easy and chill regardless of whatever they did to it! They put in a very mean but funny reference to Beyond the Beyond and made some of the townspeople into total goofballs as per their usual prerogative, but if you ask me, it all contributes to this game's one-of-a-kind vibe, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Dark Tales: From the Lost Soul |
PlayStation | Adventure, Survival Horror |
- Set by: {% rauserpic Layton %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic Carca %}
Fans of the weird, obscure, and creative PlayStation 1 games, do I have a treat for you!
Wrapped in trippy, dreamlike visuals that evoke the haunting atmosphere of David Lynch's Club Silencio and the macabre storytelling style of Tales from the Crypt, Dark Tales: From the Lost Soul embraces psychological horror as much as supernatural terror. Across three distinct and deeply unsettling tales, every choice matters, with different decisions leading to multiple outcomes that encourage you to return and try different options and paths, leading to the game feeling surprisingly fresh, unpredictable, and increasingly disturbing, even while repeating the same story.
The game's psychedelic visual style is deceptively simple, using a falsely minimalistic aesthetic that strips away unnecessary detail while amplifying every unsettling moment. Rather than softening the horror, its stark environments and surreal color choices create an eerie sense of dread.
It’s a haunting, disorienting experience of art that showcases an era of gaming experimentation, back when the PS1 broke new grounds and imagination was the only limit game developers really had.
| Game | Console | Genre |
|---|---|---|
 Rune Master II |
MSX | Board Game |
- Set by: {% rauserpic suspect15 %}
- Write-up by: {% rauserpic TrashPaddy %}
Ever wanted to play a 1990 RPG Board Game for MSX? Well, Rune Master II is the game for you! You play against 3 CPUs to defeat Azasor and save the kingdom. You make your way through the game by rolling dice, defeating monsters, completing quests, beating bosses, earning gold, and buying equipment and spells. Some quests are very obvious and are first come, first served to whichever player beats them first, and others are completely hidden on a specific spot. Some events you can skip with a good dice roll, and other times the dice fail you and you have to do a much harder task. It's a fairly short game, but honestly really enjoyable. I hope that Rune Masters I and III get developed so I can try them out as well! Also, there's a weird hidden shmup mode that the set covers - don't die!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this when it was in The Unwanted, and I felt like more people should play it, since it still only has 38 players as of writing this.