Zen – Intergalactic Ninja is one of those weird, late-era NES games that somehow slipped under the radar. You play as Zen, a space-faring ninja (obviously) who jumps between planets beating up mutants and aliens with a mix of shurikens and weird energy attacks. The controls take a second to get used to—you’ve got a dash move that feels clunky at first, but once you figure out the timing, it’s actually kinda satisfying.

The levels are all over the place—literally. One minute you’re slicing through a jungle, the next you’re platforming across floating asteroids. The music’s got that classic NES synth vibe, and the sprite work is surprisingly detailed for a game this obscure. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand—some of those jumps are brutal.

If you’re into retro action-platformers with a weird twist, this one’s a fun little time capsule.