Castlevania: Bloodlines (or The New Generation if you're in Europe) is one of those Genesis gems that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s classic Castlevania—whip-cracking, candle-smashing, Medusa-head-dodging action—but with a slick 16-bit makeover. You pick between two hunters: John Morris, who’s basically Belmont-lite with his whip, or Eric Lecarde, this spear guy who’s way more mobile. I went with Eric first because, honestly, stabbing Dracula’s minions with a giant pike just felt cooler.

The levels stretch across Europe, from crumbling castles to war-torn battlefields, and the Genesis hardware actually pulls off some wild effects—like rotating towers in the background or enemies bursting into pixelated gore. The music’s got that signature gothic vibe too, all moody synths and driving beats. It’s tough as nails in spots (of course), but that’s half the fun. If you missed this one back in the day, it’s a solid deep cut for Castlevania fans.