Brian Lara Cricket '96 on the Sega Genesis is one of those games that just feels right if you grew up with cricket in the '90s. The pixelated players, the slightly janky animations—it’s all part of the charm. You pick your team (obviously, I always went for the West Indies first), and then it’s straight into the action: fast bowlers hurling deliveries at you, and Lara’s signature cover drive actually looking kinda smooth.

The controls take a minute to get used to—timing your shots feels a bit stiff at first, but once it clicks, you’ll be smashing sixes over midwicket like it’s nothing. The AI isn’t exactly genius, but hey, it’s 1996. What’s fun is how the game leans into the arcade side of cricket—big hits, dramatic wickets, and that satisfying thunk when you middle one.

If you’re after pure nostalgia or just want to see how cricket games used to play before they got all hyper-realistic, this is a solid pick. Just don’t expect modern polish—it’s rough around the edges, but in a way that makes it weirdly endearing.