Second Samurai is one of those Genesis games that looks simple at first—you're a lone warrior slashing through demons—but then it throws some wild curveballs. The first level eases you in with basic swordplay, but soon you're dodging fireballs, jumping between floating platforms, and even riding a freaking dragon at one point. The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially the way your sword leaves these glowing trails when you power it up.

What I love is how it mixes straightforward action with little strategy moments—like choosing when to burn your limited magic attacks versus saving them for bosses. The soundtrack’s got that classic early '90s synth vibe too, all dramatic drums and wailing electric guitars. Just don’t expect it to go easy on you—some of those later levels feel like the game’s actively trying to make you rage-quit.

If you’re into retro action games that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a blast (and way more creative than the box art suggests).