So it looks like arcade ports?
Can you clarify a bit about what games would or wouldn't count? For example, does something like Double Dragon II on the Game Boy count (the game is in fact a rebranded Kunio-kun Game Boy game that never had an arcade version), or would that be ruled out since it isn't any kind of approximation of the arcade game? What about the NES port of Double Dragon II, which is itself still pretty distinct from the arcade experience?
I suppose it is fine to play lots of faithful arcade ports? Like, if I wanted to treat this month as a chance to play well-liked ports of games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, Strider, Gradius, R-Type, etc. would that be fine, or (per some of the wording in the OP) are you specifically looking for games that already had "two strikes" of poorly received outings?