Dragon Strike is one of those weird, underrated NES gems where you play as a knight riding a freaking metal dragon—complete with a lance and some magic gear. The orb you carry actually works like a radar, which is handy because the skies are packed with enemies: evil dragons (some with riders), manticores, and even the occasional beholder. Your dragon’s breath weapon recharges over time, but if you’re feeling bold, you can swoop in close for claw attacks.

Just don’t fly too low—archers on the ground will take potshots at you, and those arrows hurt. The controls take a minute to get used to, but once you do, it’s surprisingly satisfying to dive-bomb a dragon rider or roast a manticore mid-flight. The whole thing feels like a mix of fantasy dogfighting and arcade-style chaos.

It’s not the deepest game, but there’s something oddly addictive about blasting through waves of enemies on the back of a dragon.