Play Shadow Warriors Online

Shadow Warriors is one of those arcade brawlers that somehow makes button-mashing feel tactical. You start off with just a basic sword slash, but after a few levels, you're juggling enemies with combos and figuring out which weapons actually work against certain bosses (hint: the spear's reach saves lives). The pacing's brutal—enemies swarm you fast, and the hit detection is just forgiving enough that you don't feel cheated when you take a hit.

What surprised me was how much the stages change things up. One minute you're fighting in a cramped alley, the next you're dodging arrows on a collapsing bridge. The sprite work still holds up too—those ninja death animations never get old. If you grew up feeding quarters into beat-'em-ups or just want something that demands quick reflexes, this one's a solid time capsule with teeth.