NHL Stanley Cup on SNES is one of those games that just feels right if you grew up with 16-bit hockey. The controls are simple—pass, shoot, check—but there’s a surprising amount of strategy in how you move the puck. First time I played, I just mashed the slap shot button and got wrecked by the AI goalie. Turns out, dekes and quick passes work way better.

The pixelated players have that classic early '90s charm, and the animations are surprisingly smooth for the era. You’ll recognize some of the old NHL team logos, though don’t expect full rosters—this was before player licensing went nuts. The crowd noise and organ music? Pure nostalgia. It’s not the deepest hockey sim, but for quick matches with friends, it holds up better than you’d think.

Just don’t pick the Blackhawks unless you want your buddy to groan every time you score.