Mortal Kombat II on SNES is where the series really hit its stride—still brutal, but way more polished than the first one. The controls feel tighter, and there’s this weird satisfaction in pulling off Liu Kang’s bicycle kick or watching Baraka’s blades pop out for the first time. The new characters like Kung Lao and Mileena make fights way less predictable, and the fatalities? Even more ridiculous (in the best way).

It’s got that classic arcade feel, but without the quarter-munching difficulty. You’ll probably button-mash at first, but once you figure out the timing for Scorpion’s spear, it’s hard to go back. Just don’t play it near anyone who gets queasy at pixelated blood fountains.