Play Spirou Online

Spirou on the Sega Genesis is one of those charming but tough-as-nails platformers based on the classic Franco-Belgian comics. You play as the plucky reporter Spirou (with his squirrel Spip tagging along) trying to rescue his inventor friend from a robot villain named Cyanida—who, by the way, has the kind of ridiculous evil plan only a '90s platformer could get away with.

The controls feel solid—Spirou runs, jumps, and climbs with a nice sense of momentum, especially when you hold down the button to sprint. At first, you're just dodging enemies with your wits, but by the fourth level, you finally get a gun, which helps when Cyanida starts throwing waves of goons at you. The levels take you from chaotic city rooftops to a weirdly dangerous toy store, then through jungles and swamps—each one packed with hazards that’ll test your reflexes.

Fair warning: this game doesn’t go easy on you. Three lives, no continues, and just one password halfway through. If you grew up on punishing platformers, that might sound nostalgic. If not… well, expect some controller-throwing moments. Still, there’s something satisfying about finally nailing a tricky jump or outmaneuvering a boss after a dozen tries.