Prairie King

Beat Journey of the Prairie King - the arcade cabinet in the Stardrop Saloon - once, deaths allowed. Three worlds of twin-stick shooting, ~45 minutes, and your progress holds for the session even when you die (you restart the level, not the game).

What matters: keep moving diagonally, funnel enemies into lanes, and spend coins at the shops - boots and gun upgrades first. Learn the two bosses' patterns and don't hoard powerups; use them the moment a wave gets thick. Once you can clear it with deaths, the real monster is Fector's Challenge.