The golden era of gaming—spanning arcades, the 8- and 16-bit home consoles, and early CD-based systems—produced some of the most beloved franchises of all time. But tucked away beneath blockbuster titles like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, and Final Fantasy, lie dozens of underappreciated masterpieces. These “hidden gems” dazzled critics and small circles of fans upon release but never achieved mass-market fame. Today’s retro revival makes it the perfect moment to revisit these forgotten classics. Here are ten must-play titles that deserve a spot in your gaming hall of fame.
1. Little Samson (NES, 1992)
Developer/Publisher: Takeru / Tradewest
Genre: Action-Platformer
Little Samson epitomizes the pinnacle of late-life NES development. You control four unique heroes—Samson the warrior, Kikira the dragon, Gamm the golem, and K.O. the mouse—each with distinct abilities that influence level navigation and combat. Behind its unassuming exterior lies some of the finest pixel art, animation fluidity, and tight controls on the system. Whether you’re scaling walls as the dragon or smashing enemies with the golem’s heft, Little Samson constantly surprises you with inventive boss fights and branching pathways. High cartridge price and an overshadowing by Super NES releases at the time have made it a rare collector’s prize—far rarer than its greatness warrants.
2. Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis, 1993)
Developer/Publisher: Konami
Genre: Action-Platformer
Konami’s medieval–steampunk mashup starring Sparkster the opossum came a generation after Contra and Castlevania, yet felt entirely fresh. Armed with a rocket-powered backpack and sword, Sparkster rockets through lush forests, icy caverns, and mechanized fortresses. The game’s standout features—vertical boost maneuvers, responsive combat, and set-piece boss battles—blend with a rousing orchestral soundtrack to create a true adrenaline rush. Though praised by critics, Rocket Knight Adventures struggled against Sonic’s speed and Super Mario World’s ubiquity. Its 2010 sequel’s lukewarm reception only fueled interest in revisiting the 1993 original, which remains a high-water mark for 16-bit platforming flair.
3. Faxanadu (NES, 1989)
Developer/Publisher: Hudson Soft / Nintendo
Genre: Action-RPG
In the shadow of The Legend of Zelda and Castlevania, Hudson Soft’s Faxanadu carved its own niche with a gothic action-RPG that blended side-scroll combat, RPG mechanics, and non-linear exploration. You descend into the World Tree’s roots to find your father’s homeland dying under dark forces. Along the way, you level up via gold-purchased items, tune weapons with collectible ores, and manage finite magic and arrow supplies. Atmospheric pixel art—particularly the Tree’s twisting branches—and a haunting, minimalist soundtrack set Faxanadu apart, yet its mid-cycle NES release and challenging inventory management kept it from arcade success. Modern retro-RPG fans rediscover its somber tone and rewarding progression today.
4. Demon’s Crest (SNES, 1994)
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action-Platformer / Metroidvania
A darker spin-off of the Ghosts ’n Goblins universe, Demon’s Crest casts you as the fire demon Firebrand, tasked with reclaiming six magical crests to save the world from a demon warlord. Boasting richly detailed, moody pixel art and a sweeping, orchestral soundtrack, the game embraces nonlinear exploration: new crests grant abilities like flight, underwater swimming, and powerful elemental attacks, opening previously unreachable areas. While late in the SNES lifespan and bearing a high difficulty curve, Demon’s Crest earned acclaim for its complex level design and dramatic atmosphere. It remains a Metroidvania standout long before that term entered the lexicon.
5. Tomba! (PlayStation, 1998)
Developer/Publisher: Whoopee Camp / Sony
Genre: Action-Platformer
Hugely popular in Japan but quietly released elsewhere, Tomba! (sometimes stylized Tombi!) pairs bright, cartoonish visuals with unexpected depth. You guide a pink-haired feral boy on a quest to overthrow the evil Pigs who stole his grandfather’s bracelet. Levels branch into multiple interconnected areas, populated by puzzles, hidden item quests, and quirky NPCs. Tomba’s power-ups—ranging from a fishing rod to see-through glasses—unlock secret zones, while incandescent background art and an upbeat soundtrack deliver visual and auditory delight. Its sequel, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return, didn’t travel far beyond Japan, making the original even more rare and cherished by Western retro connoisseurs.
6. Pulseman (Genesis, 1994)
Developer/Publisher: Game Freak / Sega
Genre: Action-Platformer
Better known today for developing Pokémon, Game Freak’s Pulseman was their first breakout hit. As an android hero who channels electricity, Pulseman zips through levels at high speed, unleashing lightning-based attacks that chain through enemies and power switches. The game’s technical brilliance—such as fast sprite flicker manipulation to simulate 3D effects—and vivid, cel-shaded aesthetics made it a technical marvel on the Genesis. Despite glowing Japanese reviews and a cult following, Pulseman received only a limited Western release, confining it to import circles. It exemplifies what Sega hardware could achieve when pushed by ambitious developers.
7. The Guardian Legend (NES, 1988)
Developer/Publisher: Compile / Brøderbund
Genre: Hybrid Action-Adventure / Shooter
Melding Metroid-style exploration with top-down shoot-’em-up action, The Guardian Legend sees Earth’s AI defense system, the Guardian, morph into a humanoid female mech to battle an alien device orbiting the planet. Its two distinct gameplay modes—dungeon exploration and high-speed shooting stages—tie together with an array of power-ups, 20+ mazes, and atmospheric 8-bit soundscapes. Few NES games delivered such variety in mechanics and replay depth, yet its niche marketing and complex lore consigned it to cult status. Modern aficionados praise its ambitious scope and seamless genre fusion.
8. StarTropics (NES, 1990)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action-Adventure
Nintendo’s only U.S.-exclusive NES franchise, StarTropics follows Mike Jones, a young baseball star on a Pacific island adventure to rescue his uncle. Its mainland-style action puzzles—ice physics, submarine exploration, whimsical items like yo-yos and grappling hooks—feel like a breezy Zelda offshoot with a tropical twist. The game’s real-world mail-in letter puzzle—requiring fans to dip a physical “letter” in water to reveal a code—sparked legendary April Fool rumors when omitted from re-releases. Though overlooked at launch amid a booming SNES market, StarTropics endures as an icon of creative design and localized charm.
9. Terranigma (SNES, 1995)
Developer/Publisher: Quintet / Enix
Genre: Action-RPG
Released only in Japan and Europe until recent digital rereleases, Terranigma stands as an emotional high point of mid-90s console RPGs. You play Ark, a boy who inadvertently resurrects the Earth’s continents one by one, witnessing humanity’s evolution from Stone Age villages to industrial metropolises. The game’s storytelling—exploring rebirth, loss, and cosmic cycles—paired with tuneful compositions and engaging real-time combat, made it a critical triumph. Its late SNES release and mere European distribution relegated it to relative obscurity in North America, but streaming and reissues have finally restored Ark’s journey to global audiences.
10. Wild ARMs (PlayStation, 1996)
Developer/Publisher: Media.Vision / Sony
Genre: JRPG
Arriving alongside Final Fantasy VII, Wild ARMs flew under many radars with its unique Old West-meets-fantasy setting. Players assemble a party of gun-wielding adventurers—each specializing in puzzle-solving tools (e.g., grappling hooks, mining drills)—to explore dungeons full of environmental puzzles. Its bold orchestral–Western soundtrack by Michiko Naruke and evocative pre-rendered backdrops gave Wild ARMs a distinctive identity amid polygonal RPG peers. While not eclipsing Square’s behemoth, it cultivated a devoted following and spawned three sequels, cementing its place as a PS1 cult classic.
Why These Gems Matter
- Creative Constraints Sparked Innovation: Limited memory and processing power pushed developers to craft inventive mechanics and memorable pixel art that still impress retro enthusiasts today.
- Diverse Genres and Styles: From side-scroll shooters to action-RPG hybrids, these titles illustrate the breadth of design experimentation in gaming’s formative decades.
- Niche Success to Cult Reverence: Most never hit blockbuster sales but fostered tight-knit fan communities whose passions ensured preservation through emulation, re-releases, and collector’s markets.
- Inspiration for Modern Indies: Today’s retro-inspired indies—Shovel Knight, Axiom Verge, Celeste—owe a creative debt to these pioneers, proving the enduring power of well-crafted gameplay.
Rediscovering the Hidden Gems
Thanks to digital storefronts (Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store), plug-and-play retro consoles, and affordable emulation hardware, accessing these classics has never been easier. For purists, original cartridges and discs remain prized—but even newcomers can experience the magic at a fraction of the collector’s price. So power up your NES Classic, dust off that Sega Genesis Mini, or fire up RetroArch on PC. These ten forgotten titles offer a fresh perspective on gaming history and a reminder that true brilliance often hides just beneath the mainstream radar. Game on!
