Ninja (Japan) on the Sega Master System is one of those classic side-scrollers where you play as Ryu Hayabusa—yeah, that Ryu, before he became a 3D action star. It’s got that old-school ninja vibe: shurikens, wall jumps, and enemies popping out of nowhere. The controls take a second to get used to—your jumps feel a little floaty at first, but once you adjust, slicing through samurai and dodging arrows feels surprisingly smooth for an 8-bit game.

Story’s simple: your dad gets killed, so you go full revenge mode. No deep dialogue, just straight into the action. The first level throws you right into a bamboo forest with these weird frog ninjas (seriously), and the music’s this catchy chiptune track that’ll stick in your head. It’s tough, but not unfair—just expect to retry a few times while you figure out enemy patterns. If you’re into retro action games with a side of nostalgia, this one’s a solid pick.