Columns III is that one Genesis puzzle game I keep coming back to when I want something simple but just competitive enough. You're still matching those falling jewel columns like the older games, but now there's this weird little fighting game twist where your combos actually damage your opponent's side of the screen. Kinda gimmicky, but it works.

The colors pop way more than you'd expect from a 16-bit game—those turquoise and purple gems somehow look great even now. First time I played, I kept forgetting to watch the opponent's side and got wrecked by surprise attacks. Pro tip: don't just focus on your own stack.

It's got that classic Columns feel where one wrong move can either save you or doom you, and the versus mode gets properly intense once you both know what you're doing. Still holds up if you're into retro puzzle games with a bit of attitude.