Ah, Pirates! on the NES—this one’s a classic. You start off as some nobody with a tiny ship, and before long, you’re raiding ports, hunting treasure, and trying not to get sunk by the Spanish navy. The controls take a minute to figure out (why is "attack" not the A button?), but once you get the hang of boarding enemy ships and dueling their captains, it’s hard to put down.

There’s something weirdly satisfying about watching your crew’s morale go up after a successful plunder, only to immediately tank when you run out of rum. And good luck keeping your ship in one piece—those storms don’t mess around. If you can stomach the old-school graphics and some clunky menus, there’s a ton of piratey fun here. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand.