Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu is one of those classic NES brawlers that never made it outside Japan, which is a shame because it's got that perfect mix of ridiculous and satisfying. You pick from four martial arts students (the karate guy's my go-to) and just start wrecking dudes in back alleys and rooftops. The controls are simple—punch, kick, jump—but there's something weirdly addictive about the way enemies ragdoll when you land a solid hit.

What makes it stand out from other beat 'em ups is the goofy energy. One second you're fighting some punk in a school uniform, the next you're getting jumped by a dude in a full samurai getup. And the music? Pure 8-bit hype. It's not the deepest fighter out there, but it's got charm for days. You can tell the developers were having fun with it.

If you're into retro brawlers, this one's worth a few rounds—especially if you never got to try it back in the day.