Ninja Gaiden Shadow on Game Boy is one of those games that makes you realize how tough ninjas actually had it. You start off with Ryu Hayabusa doing what he does best—slicing through bad guys, climbing walls like a spider, and occasionally eating dirt when you mistime a jump (which happens more than you'd think). The controls are tight, but the game doesn’t hold your hand—enemies come at you fast, and those rooftop chases get pretty intense.

What I love is how it keeps that classic Ninja Gaiden feel despite being on a tiny screen. The bosses are brutal, especially that one with the flamethrower that took me way too many tries to figure out. And yeah, the music? Still slaps. If you’re into old-school action that actually makes you work for the win, this one’s a solid pick.