Windjammers

You throw the frisbee across the court, your opponent returns it at a sharp angle, you catch it at the last second and unleash a smash that whistles into the corner — and suddenly you realise that Windjammers is no silly beach trifle but one of the deepest competitive titles the arcade has ever seen. This gem from Data East, released in 1994, is a cult classic for good reason.

At first glance it is a simple thing: two players, a court divided into zones, and a flying disc that must be sent into the opponent's goal area. But beneath this simple surface hides surprising tactical depth. Bounce angles, spin, lobbed passes, smashes and special shots — every throw becomes a little psychological battle where you read your opponent and try to outsmart them. Easy to grasp, masterfully hard to master.

Each character has their own speed and power, which leaves room for different play styles, from nimble dodgers to power artillery. The pace is lightning-fast, the rounds short and intense, and the feeling when you send a perfect smash right into the gap in the defence is indescribably satisfying.

Windjammers has a lovely second-chance story behind it: for a long time it was an insiders' treasure before the e-sports and competitive community rediscovered it and lifted it into the spotlight. Thanks to modern ports and remasters it reached a new generation of players and to this day it ranks among the best local versus games for two that you can fire up.

It is a textbook lesson in how to strike immortal competitive fun from a simple idea.

Why play it: An unexpectedly deep frisbee arena for two, easy to grasp and masterfully hard to master — a cult versus gem rediscovered by the e-sports community.