The Accolade Sports Collection brings together five sports games from the early ’90s, and boy, do they show their age. While I’m not entirely convinced these games should be deemed “classics,” they do hold a special place in my heart as something of nostalgic gems, given I already own three of these titles on their original cartridges. Still, the real question is, does this collection deserve a spot on your Nintendo Switch?
Let’s dive into the two games I didn’t already have: namely, the baseball title Hardball and its sequel. The original Hardball deserves credit for its innovations back in the day. It kicked off a series and even made a cameo in the introduction of The Princess Bride. Considering it debuted in 1985, by 1991, it was already feeling a bit crusty compared to more modern releases. And the quirks don’t end there—playing as the 1991 NL champion Atlanta Braves turns into a letdown when you realize you’re stuck choosing just city names, a sign of the times that dampens the nostalgia. The game looks decent, but you might find the looping background music grates on your nerves after a while (thankfully, you can mute it).
The sequel switches things up with a new perspective, more stadium choices, and a demo mode that was popular in sports games of that era. Although the manual spans over a dozen pages, signaling plenty of complexities, the pace is noticeably slow. Sure, the animations were great for their time, but they might test your patience these days. While save features are a lifesaver, don’t expect this to be an easy pick-up-and-play game. Honestly, unless you have fond memories of these Hardball games from your PC days, they don’t transition well to console gaming.
Then there are Summer and Winter Challenge games. With a total of 16 events split between them, it’s hard to delve into each one specifically. You might worry they sacrificed quality for quantity, and you wouldn’t be far off. Yet, with my nostalgia glasses firmly on, most of the events manage to entertain in their own quirky way.
Would retro enthusiasts find these titles a blast from the past? Probably. The presentation is a standout, featuring ambitious-looking polygons—a challenge even for the Genesis—and animations that show the developers put in some real effort. The “Behind the Athlete” view gives these games a unique TV-like feel, all in glorious 16-bit graphics. Some events get tricky due to the perspective (good luck avoiding a foot fault when pole vaulting), but grab some retro-loving friends, and you’ll be button-mashing with glee.
Saving the best for last, we have Hoops Shut Up and Jam, famously remembered as Barkley Shut Up and Jam. ’90s NBA fans will recall Charles Barkley starring in his own game, which was a proper basketball experience compared to the odd spin-offs from Jordan and Shaq. While Barkley’s model has been subtly altered due to licensing issues now, it retains that NBA Jam-style excitement we all remember.
What makes it stand out is its ease of play. Even with my extensive gaming experience, it’s the most accessible title in the collection. Since the Accolade Sports Collection aims to cater to those new to retro gaming, Hoops Shut Up and Jam is the crown jewel if you want to jump straight into the action without flipping through digital manuals or enduring slow learning curves.
In short, the Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) pretty much delivers what I anticipated, nothing more, nothing less. However, at $19.99 in 2025, it’s a tough sell—even to someone as sentimental as I am about these games. Maybe just pop it on your wishlist and keep an eye out for a discount.
