Gain Ground is one of those weird Sega Genesis games that somehow blends strategy, action, and a little bit of chaos into something weirdly addictive. You start with three warriors—a knight, a spear guy, and an archer—and have to guide them through these maze-like levels packed with enemies. The catch? If one dies, they're gone for good, so you actually have to think before rushing in.

What makes it fun is how different each character feels. The knight’s slow but hits hard, the archer can snipe from a distance (if you can aim properly), and the spear guy... well, he’s kind of in between. Half the challenge is figuring out who to use where, because some stages are brutal if you don’t have the right fighter left.

It’s got that old-school arcade vibe where everything moves just a little too fast, and the music is pure late-80s Sega cheese. Not gonna lie, the first few levels trick you into thinking it’s easy—then suddenly you’re getting swarmed by ninjas or something. Still, there’s something satisfying about finally clearing a stage after a dozen tries.

If you like retro games that make you strategize on the fly, this one’s worth a look.