10. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992, Sega Master System)

I’m just going to say it, this is the Dark Souls of Sonic games. Like the 8-bit Master System version of the first Sonic, Sonic 2 bears little resemblance to its 16-bit sibling. Sonic 2 doesn’t even deign to keep similar level names and styles; Sonic Team chucked everything into the bin and built a completely new game that was tough as shit. The first boss in particular inspires memories of dread as boss stages don’t give you rings and make you navigate some hazard-filled platforming before you can even make a run at the boss. Then you’re forced to dodge projectiles that you can barely see coming (the small field of vision got smaller in the Game Gear version, making it even harder) in hopes that you can dodge long enough to finally eke out a win. One mistimed jump and it’s back to the beginning. I don’t know how I got by that first act at all as a seven-year-old. The rest of the levels are less punishing, but still tough. Ultimately Sonic 2 for the Master System did its own thing, with its own levels, and was really cool.