Play Zig Zag Cat - Dachou Club mo Oosawagi da (Japan) Online

Zig Zag Cat, released by Media Rings for the Super Nintendo in 1994, is one of those oddball platformers that feels distinctly of its era. It doesn't try to compete with the big names of the time; instead, it carves out its own strange little corner with a premise that is both simple and completely bizarre.

You control a cat that runs automatically, and your only input is making it zig or zag to avoid obstacles, like rolling ostriches, sudden pits, and other screen-filling hazards. The main objective is simply to survive each stage as long as possible, with the challenge coming from the increasingly chaotic and unpredictable level layouts. The signature mechanics are its forced runner pace and the binary left/right control scheme, which creates a tense, almost rhythmic gameplay loop. It feels like a frantic, slightly unhinged test of reflexes that leaves you more surprised than skilled.