Sanrio Timenet - Kako Hen (Japan)

Sanrio Timenet - Kako Hen is a Japan-exclusive Game Boy Color title that forms the 'Past Chapter' of a two-part time-travel puzzle series. Released around the turn of the millennium, it was part of a small wave of Sanrio-branded games that leaned more into adventure and problem-solving than pure mascot platforming. The game uses the GBC's color palette nicely, with character sprites that will feel instantly familiar to anyone who grew up with Hello Kitty and friends. It never came out outside Japan, so it's a bit of a hidden gem for retro import collectors.

You play by moving through a series of themed stages, each representing a different historical era or setting from the Sanrio universe. The core loop involves interacting with objects and characters, solving environmental puzzles, and sometimes collecting items to unlock the path forward. There isn't a heavy action component - this is more about observation and figuring out the right sequence of actions. Menus and text are entirely in Japanese, so a bit of patience or a translation guide helps if you don't read the language.

What makes this title worth trying today is its combination of gentle puzzle design and the unmistakable Sanrio charm. It's not a deep or particularly challenging game, but it offers a relaxed, quirky experience that stands apart from the platformers and RPGs dominating that generation's handheld library. If you're into collecting oddball GBC imports or just want to see how Sanrio handled time travel before modern mobile games, this is a neat piece of history. Just don't expect a long or complex adventure - it's a short, pleasant diversion that feels like a interactive diorama more than a hardcore puzzle game.