Nightmare Circus is one of those weird, late-era Genesis games that slipped under the radar—probably because it came out when everyone was already eyeing the next-gen consoles. You play as this Native American warrior (no backstory, just jumps right into it) fighting through a surreal circus-themed nightmare. Clowns, evil magicians, the works.

The controls feel a little stiff at first, like most platformers from that era, but once you get used to the jump arcs, it’s got this odd charm. Some of the enemy designs are genuinely creepy, especially for a 16-bit game. The music? Unsettling carnival tunes that stick in your head way longer than they should.

It’s not the deepest game, but there’s something about the weird atmosphere that makes it hard to put down once you start. Definitely a cult favorite for Genesis collectors.