Play SD Keiji - Blader (Japan) Online

Ever played an NES game that feels like someone mashed up Mega Man and a Saturday morning anime? That’s SD Keiji - Blader—a weird little cyber-cop adventure where you bounce between slashing robots with a sword and blasting them with a gun. The super-deformed art style makes everything look like chibi Blade Runner, which is way more charming than it has any right to be.

First level drops you straight into neon-lit streets full of jumpy enemies, and the controls take a second to click—your sword has this satisfying shink sound, but you’ll miss a lot if you just button-mash. The synth soundtrack goes harder than it needs to, especially for a game where your character’s head is basically a bobblehead. It’s tough, but in that old-school way where you can tell the developers really wanted you to learn their weird little robot patterns.

Not gonna lie, tracking down a copy is half the battle (it never left Japan), but if you’re into obscure NES action with personality, this one’s a trip.