Q*bert on NES is one of those classic arcade ports that somehow feels even more punishing on a home console. You control this little orange guy who hops around a pyramid of cubes, changing their color with each jump. At first, it seems simple—just bounce around turning everything yellow—but then the game throws curveballs. Some cubes need two hops, others revert if you land on them again, and before long, you're sweating just trying to keep track.

The real stress comes from the enemies. Coily the snake starts as this bouncing purple ball, but once he hits the bottom row, he transforms into this relentless hopping menace that chases you down. And don’t even get me started on the red balls—they just bounce straight down, no warning, and if they hit you? Instant game over. The sound effects are brutal too—that loud plonk when you fall off the edge still haunts me.

It’s weirdly addictive, though. There’s something satisfying about methodically coloring the pyramid while dodging chaos. Just don’t expect to get far on your first try.