Runark is one of those Genesis games that looks simple at first—just a little dude running and jumping through colorful pixel worlds—but man, it gets intense fast. The controls feel tight, which is good because you’ll need precision when the screen starts filling up with enemies and those weird floating platforms that disappear if you hesitate.

I love how the music kicks in with that classic chiptune energy, like it’s cheering you on while you’re desperately trying not to fall into a pit for the tenth time. And the levels? They start off cute, then suddenly you’re dodging fireballs and timing jumps over spikes like some kind of pixel acrobat.

It’s got that perfect mix of “just one more try” frustration and satisfaction when you finally nail a tricky section. If you’re into retro platformers that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a solid pick.