I wanna write something wordier and more complex than this, but I just really fuckin' love this game, y'know? Just sheer bliss that's lasted me far longer than its relatively brief story modes might suggest it ever would. I bought this game when I was going through some very, very difficult stuff that threatened to upend much of my life, and throughout all of it, Touhou Spell Bubble was always something I could dip into to feel better in no time at all. As an example of just how much games can fill our lives with joy and warmth, there are few that I think of more immediately than this. It's been months since I grabbed it and I still keep dipping into it for hours at a time.

The music choices here are so damn good and cool. The rhythm/puzzle combo gameplay is incredibly satisfying, easy to grasp, and has a ton of room for player growth. The $55 price is a steep barrier to entry for many, but if that's something you're willing to push past, you'll scarcely find a more immediately satisfying experience than this. I even love the janky localization that, if nothing else, captures Marisa and Cirno's dipshit energies perfectly.

Oh, and the characters counting along to the beat during combos is one of the best ideas ever. Just immediate free seratonin. I love it. Perfect game.