Play Dragon Unit (Japan) Online

Start as a nimble warrior, then hit a button to erupt into a fire-breathing dragon when things get hairy—timing those transformations is everything. Those chunky pixel bosses look amazing right before you roast them.

Developer: Athena

Genre: Action

Released: 1990

File size: 128 bytes

Game Overview

Dragon Unit is one of those NES games that makes you go, "Wait, how did I miss this?" At first glance, it's another side-scrolling shooter—until you realize you can turn into a dragon halfway through the first level. That’s when things get interesting.

Human form is quick but weak, and dragon form turns you into a slow-moving flamethrower. The trick is knowing when to switch—like when a swarm of enemies shows up and you just need to torch everything. The pixel art pops with bright colors, especially when your dragon breath lights up the screen. Boss fights feel huge for an 8-bit game, and some of them actually make you think instead of just button-mashing.

It’s tough, sure, but not unfair. More like the kind of game where you mutter "one more try" at 2 AM. If you’ve got a soft spot for weird, creative NES gems, this one’s a solid pick.