NHL '94 on the Sega Genesis is one of those rare sports games that just got it right. The controls are stupidly smooth—one-touch passes, slapshots that actually feel powerful, and body checks that send players flying in the most satisfying way. I still remember the first time I figured out how to pull off a one-timer; it felt like unlocking some secret hockey superpower.

It’s not just nostalgia, either. Even now, the gameplay holds up better than most modern hockey sims. The pixelated players have this weirdly expressive charm, especially when they celebrate goals with those little fist pumps. And yeah, the rosters are frozen in 1993, but there’s something hilarious about watching Wayne Gretzky and Jeremy Roenick duke it out in 16-bit glory.

Best part? No complicated menus or microtransactions—just pick a team, drop the puck, and lose an entire afternoon to sudden-death overtime. If you’ve got a Genesis lying around, dust it off for this one.