Rockman 5 (or Mega Man 5 if you're outside Japan) is one of those classic NES games that feels like it wants to punish you—but in a good way. You’ve got twelve new robot masters to take down, each with their own ridiculous theme (Gravity Man? Wave Man? Yeah, Capcom was running out of ideas). The levels are brutal, but once you figure out the patterns, blasting through them with Mega Man’s arm cannon feels so satisfying.

It’s got that same tight platforming and weapon-stealing gimmick as the earlier games, though some fans argue it’s a little easier than Mega Man 3 or 4. Still, good luck beating the final boss without grinding for E-tanks first. The music slaps, too—especially Napalm Man’s stage.

If you’re into retro action games that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a solid pick.