Play Knights of Valour - Sangoku Senki Online

Knights of Valour is one of those classic arcade beat 'em ups that just feels right—you pick from a handful of warriors (I always go for Guan Yu with that ridiculous halberd) and start carving through waves of enemies. The controls are simple—slash, jump, and a special attack that drains health but clears the screen when you're in trouble—but the real fun comes from the chaos of dodging arrows while three guys with spears rush you at once.

It's got that old-school arcade difficulty too—you'll die a lot unless you memorize enemy patterns or spam specials. The backgrounds are surprisingly detailed for a 90s game, with burning villages and palace courtyards that make the Three Kingdoms setting actually matter. By the third stage, you're fighting on horseback against a general twice your size, and it somehow never gets old.

Perfect for quick sessions if you like your action loud, messy, and slightly unfair.