The Accolade Sports Collection takes a trip down memory lane, bringing together five sports games from the early ’90s. Now, these games are over 30 years old, and while calling them "classic" might be a stretch for some, I have a bit of a soft spot for them, owning three of the titles on their original cartridges. But is this collection something every Nintendo Switch owner should consider adding to their library?
Let’s dive into the two games that were new to me: Hardball and its follow-up. The original Hardball was quite the trailblazer back in its day, claiming fame as it kicked off a series and even made a cameo in the opening of The Princess Bride. Originally launched in 1985, by the time 1991 rolled around, it was already showing its age against its peers, and even more so now. I had hoped to immerse myself in the spirit of ’91 by playing as the National League champion Atlanta Braves, but alas, you can only choose city names, which was a bit of a letdown. Nonetheless, the visuals hold up reasonably well; just be prepared for the repetitive tunes—which, thankfully, can be muted if they start to grate on your nerves during extended play.
The sequel tries to switch things up with a new viewpoint, gets rid of in-game music, offers more stadium choices, and incorporates a demo mode, which was quite the norm back then. The game’s complexity is undeniable, proven by its hefty manual that has just as many pages as the Olympic-style games in this collection. However, this complexity also makes it less immediate and, coupled with sluggish animations (which impressed back then), it becomes a slow-paced experience. It’s not exactly a pick-up-and-play game, though saving your progress does help. Unless these titles stir up some nostalgic feelings from your PC gaming days, they might not stand the test of time on consoles today.
Next in line are Summer and Winter Challenge. With 16 events in all—split equally between the two titles—it’s tricky to get into the specifics of each event. You might think it’s a case of quantity over quality, and you wouldn’t be far off. Still, many of these events are quite enjoyable, especially when viewed through the lens of nostalgia.
If you’re a fan of old-school games, you might find them generally entertaining. The ambitious polygon graphics (quite a feat on the Genesis) and animations show these games were crafted with effort. The “Behind the Athlete” view gives the games a neat, TV-like presentation in their 16-bit glory. Sure, these perspectives can make events more challenging (good luck with the pole vault), but they’re great for some competitive button-mashing with your retro-loving friends.
Finally, we have Hoops Shut Up and Jam, famously known as Barkley Shut Up and Jam back in the day. During the ’90s, Sir Charles joined other NBA superstars in having his own video game. Unlike Jordan’s platformer or Shaq’s fighting title, this one was an honest-to-goodness basketball game. Though the game spruces up his character model to dodge licensing issues, it still packs the classic NBA Jam-style fun it was known for.
Importantly, it’s easily the most accessible game in the collection for quick sessions. As a seasoned player, I say this collection is also geared towards those just dipping their toes into retro gaming. If you’re not keen on digging through digital manuals or dealing with steep learning curves, Hoops Shut Up and Jam shines as the standout, even without its headlining player.
In the end, the Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) delivers just what I anticipated—nothing more, nothing less. At $19.99, it feels like a hard sell in 2025, particularly to someone like me who’s riding the nostalgia wave. I’d recommend adding this one to your wishlist and waiting for a sale in the future.
