Rastan Saga II is one of those old-school side-scrolling beat 'em ups that feels like it wants to punish you—in a good way. You play as this barbarian dude swinging a sword through waves of enemies, and the controls are simple but tight. The first level throws you right into it with these weird lizard guys and floating skulls, and the music has that classic Genesis chiptune grit.

It’s not as polished as some of the bigger-name Genesis titles, but there’s something satisfying about the weight of your attacks and the way enemies stagger when you hit them. The Japanese version has a few differences, like slightly altered enemy placements, so if you’ve played the overseas release, it might trip you up at first. Definitely one for fans of tough, no-frills action.