Play Kagerou Densetsu (Japan) Online

Kagerou Densetsu is one of those NES games that slipped under the radar outside Japan, which is a shame because it nails that perfect mix of tight action and eerie atmosphere. You play as this ninja with a sickle, slashing through enemies in these shadowy, almost dreamlike levels—somehow it feels more like a dark folktale than your typical 8-bit hack-and-slash.

The wall-climbing mechanic still feels surprisingly smooth, letting you flip between floors and ceilings mid-combat. And yeah, it’s tough—enemies come at you fast, and the platforming demands precision—but the controls are responsive enough that deaths usually feel like your fault, not the game’s. The branching paths are a nice touch too; my first playthrough was completely different from my friend’s, which led to some fun arguments about which route was “right.”

If you’ve ever wished Ninja Gaiden had a moodier cousin with a killer soundtrack, this is it. Just be ready to retry that one boss fight a few (dozen) times.