The Accolade Sports Collection brings together five sports games from the early ’90s, and let’s be real—they’re starting to show their age. Now, calling these games “classic” seems a bit of a stretch, especially when weighing their worthiness as part of an “epic” collection. Personally, they hold some nostalgic value since I’ve got three out of the five in my cartridge stash. So, is this collection a must-have on the Nintendo Switch? Let’s dive in.
I’ll kick things off with the two games I never owned before: the original Hardball and its sequel. Back in its day, Hardball made quite an impression, kicking off a successful series and even featuring in The Princess Bride’s intro. But fast forward to 1991, and it was already a bit outdated compared to its peers—not to mention now. As for a bit of nostalgia, I wanted to relive the ’91 era and play as the NL champion Atlanta Braves, but you’re stuck with just city names here. Understandable, yet disappointing. Visually, it still holds up decently, but the looping music could get on your nerves if you play for too long (though you can switch it off).
Its sequel steps things up with a new perspective, more stadium choices, and even a demo mode—a staple of the era’s sports games. The game’s got depth, as evidenced by an extensive in-game manual rivaling the Olympic-style games in this collection. However, this also means it’s not the fastest to jump into, given the sluggish animations that, while impressive at the time, slow things down today. Without that nostalgic pull, especially from PC versions, it’s hard to say these Hardball games stand the test of time on a console.
Moving on, Summer and Winter Challenge bring together 16 events split between them. Delving into each event individually isn’t my aim here; instead, it’s about the overall feel. Sure, you might think it’s a quantity over quality situation—and you wouldn’t be wrong. Still, I find most events quite enjoyable, thanks in part to my rose-tinted nostalgic view.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if others with a soft spot for retro games found them generally entertaining too. The presentation doesn’t hurt, with ambitious polygons that were no small feat on the Genesis, and animations that show these games weren’t just slapped together. “Behind the Athlete” views give them a cool 16-bit TV-style look. Some events become extra challenging, like avoiding a foot fault in pole vault, but it’s perfect for a fun button-mashing session with friends of like minds.
Lastly, we have Hoops Shut Up and Jam, remembered fondly as Barkley Shut Up and Jam. Charles Barkley, a ’90s NBA juggernaut, starred in this game—more genuinely basketball than Jordan’s platformer or Shaq’s fighter. They’ve altered his character a bit to avoid licensing issues, but the gameplay remains that classic NBA Jam-style goodness.
Most importantly, it’s the simplest game in the collection to dive into and enjoy. Though I’m a vet, the Accolade Sports Collection is also pitched to those new to retro gaming. For those not keen on sifting through digital manuals or dealing with slow learning curves, Hoops Shut Up and Jam shines brightest, even without its title star’s namesake.
Overall, the Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) delivers about what I expected. At $19.99, it’s a tough sell in 2025, even for someone like me with nostalgia in spades. Might be best to watchlist it and wait for a sale.
