Retro sports fans, get ready — two of the NES and SNES era’s biggest sports franchises are officially back. Publisher Rock It Games has relaunched Bases Loaded and Goal! — complete with their 16-bit sequels — on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
This follows previous releases on PC via GOG and Steam.
Each bundle costs $7.99 (regional pricing has not yet been released), and each includes both the NES original and the SNES follow-up. That means two baseball games in Jaleco Sports: Bases Loaded (Bases Loaded + Super Bases Loaded), and two football (yes, football) games in Jaleco Sports: Goal! (Goal! + Super Goal!).
It’s all part of the ongoing celebration of the NES’s 40th anniversary in North America — with a pair of sports series that once sold millions now getting a fresh digital innings.
Classic sports gaming, modern quality-of-life upgrades
There is more to this collection than ROM dumps. Rock It has layered in useful additions like:
- Switch instantly between NES and SNES versions
- Save anywhere (no more leaving the console paused overnight)
- CRT visual options for that proper living-room-floor experience
- Online leaderboards
- Built-in manuals and help
- Rewind support in the Goal! bundle — because we’ve all skied a penalty
There are even regional variations included — such as Super Professional Baseball for Japan and Moero!! Pro Soccer — making these some of the most complete reissues these games have ever received.
Back when Jaleco sported the crown
Bases Loaded and Goal! weren’t just any cartridges — they were huge. Before FIFA and before MLB games went full-simulation, Jaleco titles were leading the pack in realism… or at least what counted as realism in the late ‘80s.
Highlights include:
| Game | Original Release | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Bases Loaded (NES) | 1988 | TV-style pitcher view and big league presentation |
| Super Bases Loaded (SNES) | 1991 | Early showcase for 16-bit sports graphics |
| Goal! (NES) | 1988 | Tactical depth and player skill ratings ahead of its time |
| Super Goal! (SNES) | 1992 | More teams, replays, radar, formations — proto-FIFA good |
If you grew up with these games, you’ll remember the tension of a bases-loaded ninth… or pulling off an impossible bicycle kick because, well, the physics allowed it.
A win for preservation — and a handy price to boot
Rock It Games positions itself as a retro-friendly publisher, promising player ownership, developer involvement, and proper celebration of gaming history. Releases like this back up that claim.
For under a tenner, you get:
- Four full games
- Multiple variants
- Online features
- Improvements that actually make them nicer to play today
That’s a pretty easy result to call.
Ready to kick off — or step up to the plate?
Jaleco Sports: Bases Loaded and Jaleco Sports: Goal! are out now via digital storefronts on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
Multiplayer is supported both locally and online — so line up a friend and pretend it’s still 1992.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
