Play Theme Park (USA, Europe) Online

Theme Park on the Sega Genesis is one of those games that tricked me into thinking I could run a business better than real-life tycoons. You start with a patch of land and a tiny budget, plopping down roller coasters and food stalls like you're some kind of carnival god. The first time I played, I went bankrupt in 10 minutes because I forgot people actually need bathrooms—rookie mistake.

What's cool is how everything reacts to your choices. Set the burger prices too high? Visitors get grumpy and leave. Build a nausea-inducing coaster? You'll see little pixelated puke animations everywhere. The research system lets you unlock wilder rides over time, though I always got impatient and blew my cash on giant Ferris wheels instead.

It's got that classic '90s charm where the graphics are simple but full of personality, and the music sticks in your head way longer than it should. Just don't expect modern depth—this is the kind of game where hiring a janitor feels like a major strategic decision. Still weirdly satisfying to watch your park grow from a sad little circle of benches to a sprawling mess of loop-de-loops and cotton candy stands.