Man, Tecmo Bowl on NES is pure nostalgia. You pick your team—I always went with the Raiders because Bo Jackson was basically unstoppable—and then it’s just straight into these fast, arcade-style football games where every play feels like it could break for a touchdown. The graphics are obviously old-school, but there’s something about the way the players move that still feels satisfying.

Controls are simple: arrows to move, Z and X for passing and sprinting. No complicated playbooks here—just pick a run or pass and hope your receiver doesn’t get flattened. The AI isn’t exactly genius-level, but that’s part of the charm. You’ll absolutely destroy the computer once you figure out a couple of unstoppable plays (looking at you, Raiders’ sweep).

If you’re into retro sports games, this one’s a must. It’s the kind of game where you’ll yell at the screen when your QB gets sacked for the third time in a row. Tecmo Bowl holds up way better than it has any right to.