Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban is one of those SNES baseball games that somehow nails the balance between arcade-style fun and just enough realism to keep you hooked. The pixel art is pure 90s charm—big-headed players with exaggerated wind-ups, dirt kicking up when you slide into base—but don’t let the retro look fool you. The pitching mechanics actually require some thought, and timing your swing feels weirdly satisfying once you get the hang of it.

First time I booted it up, I accidentally threw nothing but wild pitches for an entire inning. Turns out, holding the button longer gives you more control, not just speed. Little details like that make it stand out from other SNES baseball titles. The fielding’s a bit clunky by modern standards, but there’s something about the way the crowd cheers when you nail a home run that still hits right.

If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school sports games, this one’s a solid pick for a lazy afternoon.