The Accolade Sports Collection is a nostalgic trip back to the early ’90s, bundling together five sports games that, to be honest, haven’t aged all that gracefully. If you’re in the market for a Nintendo Switch collection that evokes memories of past gaming experiences, this might catch your eye, especially if you already have a soft spot for these titles, as I do with three of the originals sitting on my cartridge shelf. But does it deserve a place in your gaming library today?
Let’s dive into the two titles I hadn’t previously owned: the original Hardball and its sequel. The first installment of Hardball once had its glory days, setting the stage for a series and even making a cameo in the intro of The Princess Bride. Released initially in 1985, by the time 1991 rolled around, it was already feeling a bit long in the tooth, let alone now. I was eager to relive the ’91 season as the NL-champion Atlanta Braves, but the game only offers the option of choosing city names—an expected letdown. On the plus side, the game’s visuals hold up reasonably well, though the looping music might grate on your nerves after a while, so it’s nice that you can mute it.
The sequel to Hardball tweaks the formula with a shift in perspective, more stadiums to choose from, and introduces a demo mode reminiscent of classic sports games from that era. The in-game manual is surprisingly extensive, rivaling the page count found in the Olympic-style carts in the collection, hinting at a decent level of depth but also a slower pace. Its animations, while impressive back then, feel sluggish now, making it less of a pick-up-and-play experience. While saving your progress is a helpful feature, unless you’re driven by nostalgia for these games (probably from the old PC days), they don’t translate as seamlessly onto modern consoles.
Moving on, we have Summer and Winter Challenge, boasting a combined total of 16 different events. There’s not enough space here to break down each one, and it might be tempting to think it’s a case of quantity over quality. However, they do provide an entertaining experience, especially through the lens of nostalgia.
For anyone with an appreciation for retro games, these events could be a delightful distraction. The games feature an ambitious graphical presentation with polygons—uncommon on the Genesis—that shows real effort went into them. The “Behind the Athlete” perspective adds a fun, TV-style feel in glorious 16-bit, although mastering some events can be tricky. Grab a few friends with a taste for retro fun, and you’ll be in for some button-mashing joy.
Wrapping up the collection is Hoops Shut Up and Jam, better known back in the day as Barkley Shut Up and Jam. Charles Barkley, like many iconic ’90s NBA stars, graced this game with his presence. Unlike other sports stars of the era who tried their hand at different genres, Barkley’s game stayed true to basketball with an NBA Jam-like flair. Although his character’s likeness has been adjusted due to licensing, the game’s arcade-style thrills remain.
Out of all five games, Hoops Shut Up and Jam stands out as the most accessible, welcoming even those who are newbies to retro gaming. It’s straightforward and skips the lengthy manuals and complex learning curves, making it the highlight of the collection, even without Barkley’s name on the cover.
The Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) offers exactly what you’d expect—neither more nor less. At $19.99, it’s a bit pricey for a straightforward nostalgia collection in 2025. If you’re like me and fondly recall these games, it might be worth wishlist-ing and waiting for a sale.
