System: Nintendo Entertainment System Release date: 1986 Excitebike on the NES is a cracking early motocross game that still delivers a fun ride today. This Excitebike NES classic brought arcade-style dirt track thrills straight into living rooms everywhere. You tear around bumpy courses packed with jumps, whoops, mud and rival riders all trying to knock…
System: Nintendo Entertainment System Release date: 1991 Shadow Warriors on the NES is a stylish and ambitious ninja action game that still impresses with its movement, storytelling and atmosphere. This Shadow Warriors NES title (known as Ninja Gaiden elsewhere) follows Ryu Hayabusa on a globe-spanning quest for revenge against the demonic Jaquio. Wall-running, shuriken storms,…
System: Nintendo Entertainment System Release date: 1989 DuckTales on the NES is a proper little gem and one of Capcom’s finest Disney efforts. This DuckTales NES classic turned Scrooge McDuck into one of the best 8-bit platforming heroes around. As the world’s richest (and tightest) duck, you bounce across the globe from the Amazon to…
System: Nintendo Entertainment System Release date: 1987 Punch-Out!! on the NES is a timeless classic that still delivers one of the most satisfying boxing experiences around. This Punch-Out NES title turned tiny underdog Little Mac into one of the most memorable heroes on the system. Facing off against a gallery of larger-than-life opponents from Glass…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1993 Gunstar Heroes on the Mega Drive is a genuine 16-bit classic and still one of the best run-and-gun games ever made. This Gunstar Heroes Mega Drive masterpiece from Treasure basically said “to hell with convention” and delivered seven stages of pure explosive chaos. You play as Red or…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1992 Desert Strike on the Mega Drive is a cracking little isometric blaster that still holds up well today. This Desert Strike Mega Drive title puts you in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter for some serious Gulf War-inspired mayhem. The top-down isometric shooter mixes explosive action with smart…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1991 Streets of Rage on the Mega Drive is a proper 16-bit gem and one of the best beat-’em-ups of its generation. This Streets of Rage Mega Drive title let you play as a bunch of ex-cops cleaning up a crime-ridden city the old-fashioned way – with boots, fists…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog on the Mega Drive is a genuine 16-bit icon that still delivers a massive smile in 2025. This Sonic the Hedgehog Mega Drive scorcher turned a spiky rodent into a global superstar and gave Nintendo a proper headache. As the fastest thing alive, you’re sprinting…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1991 ToeJam & Earl on the Mega Drive is a genuinely unique and brilliant game that still feels special today. This ToeJam & Earl Mega Drive title drops two funky aliens onto Earth after their spaceship has a very bad day. You play as ToeJam and Earl, two laid-back…
System: Sega Mega Drive Release date: 1993 Strider II on the Mega Drive is a fast, flashy and fun ninja platformer that still delivers a decent rush. This Strider II Mega Drive sequel sends the acrobatic assassin Hiryu dashing across the globe to slice up another mad scheme from Grand Master Meio. With wall-running flips,…