Ice Hockey on NES is one of those deceptively simple sports games that actually has some sneaky depth. You pick your team—Canada, USA, USSR, etc.—and then choose your lineup: thin guys (fast but get knocked over if someone breathes on them), average dudes (balanced), or big bruisers (slow but hit like trucks). I always went heavy on the stocky players because sending opponents flying never gets old.

The controls are basic—pass, shoot, check—but games get chaotic fast. Pucks ricochet off the boards, goalies flop around like fish, and fights break out if you mash the buttons just right. It’s not realistic, but it’s a blast with two players. Just don’t expect fancy dekes or slap shots—this is pure arcade hockey from the ’80s.

Fun fact: The Soviet team is weirdly overpowered. Some things never change.