NHL '94 on SNES is the kind of game that makes you forget how old it is—it just feels right. The controls are stupidly smooth, the hits actually have weight, and the one-timer goals? Pure satisfaction. No fancy gimmicks, just fast, brutal hockey the way it should be played.

It’s got that perfect balance where you can pick it up in seconds but still find little tricks months later (pro tip: slap shots from the blue line are way more effective than they should be). The pixelated crowd noise, the organ music between plays—it all adds up to something weirdly immersive. Still holds up better than half the hockey games coming out now.

If you’ve got a SNES and even a passing interest in sports games, this one’s non-negotiable.