Play Venus Wars Online

Venus Wars on the NES is one of those games that makes you wonder how it slipped under the radar. You start off speeding through a war-torn Venus on this weird hover-bike thing, blasting enemy troops while dodging incoming fire—and somehow, it just works. The controls are tight, the action’s chaotic, and the whole thing feels like playing through some lost '80s anime OVA.

What I love is how it switches things up—one second you’re boosting through a hail of bullets, the next you’re on foot, gunning down soldiers like a sci-fi commando. The sprites are surprisingly detailed for an NES game, too, with explosions that actually feel satisfying. It’s not perfect (good luck figuring out some of the power-ups at first), but it’s got way more personality than most shooters from that era. If you’re into retro stuff with a weird, pulpy edge, this one’s a blast.