Super Air Diver (Japan) is one of those obscure SNES gems that never made it out of Japan—a sequel to the US-released Lock On, but with way more polish. You’re basically thrown into the cockpit of a fighter jet, dodging missiles and scrambling to lock onto enemy planes before they blast you out of the sky. The controls take a second to click, but once they do, it’s surprisingly satisfying weaving through clouds and lining up shots.

What’s cool is how the game mixes arcade-style action with just enough realism to make you feel like a pilot without drowning in complicated systems. The first mission eases you in, but by the third, you’re sweating over radar blips and fuel warnings. And yeah, the graphics are definitely mid-90s SNES, but the sense of speed holds up.

If you’re into flight combat games and don’t mind digging for imports, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t expect a walk in the park—those later missions get brutal.