A Fast Break That Misses the Basket
NBA THE RUN had the potential to bring arcade basketball back into the spotlight, but while its flashy presentation and fast-paced gameplay create a strong first impression, I think the experience quickly runs out of ideas. What should have been a fun alternative to traditional basketball games instead feels shallow and repetitive.
The core gameplay is easy to pick up, with exaggerated dunks, trick shots, and quick 3-on-3 matches. This was entertaining to me for a few games. However, the lack of depth becomes obvious after a short time. Matches often play out the same way, and there isn't enough variety in the mechanics to keep players invested for long sessions.
Gameplay is one place where I think they have got the game somewhat right; it's about as arcade as you can get, but unfortunately, it does become mundane very quickly. Passing feels more like a dice roll most of the time, and while defending isn't the focus, it also feels like you're punished for trying - Blocks being the highlight though, feeling like the only part of the game that isn’t random.
This then feeds into the small roster, so players like Victor Wembenyama just become the meta. My player of choice was Anthony Edwards; quick, has a nice shot and can dunk. Each player has an “in the zone” power-up that builds up by performing well in the game.
There is a shop where you can buy all sorts of things, from alternate uniforms, “retro” players - Lebron James ‘03, Kevin Durant ‘07 being examples. Also in the shop are taunts, badges, and banners, nothing special, just ways to customize how people see your name. The big one being Dunks, 20 to choose from, split into 4 tiers. These range from a simple reverse all the way to a very nice-looking honey dip.
However, buying things from the shop does become a grind. After over a dozen games, I still only had 130 coins, a retro player will set you back 5k. So you can imagine how much you have to grind.
I went on a few runs, but every time you go in, it is tournament-style. I would get stuck in the semifinals, almost as if no other players had gotten that far in the tournament, meaning you will have to either wait (in my case, as long as 35 minutes) or hard-quit the game. It's like there was no one to compete against.
Visually, the game looks good. I liked the colourful courts and stylized player animations that capture the energy of street basketball, and the NBA licence adds plenty of recognizable stars.
Unfortunately, the impressive presentation can't hide the limited amount of content available at launch. With only a handful of current stars, no legends & 4 original characters, the roster feels very shallow.
There are also too few modes: you either play as the whole team, on your own, or, in the 3rd option, a freestyle practice. Additionally, there is just a small selection of courts, and the progression system feels more like a grind than a reward.
Online play is also inconsistent. While playing with friends can be enjoyable, matchmaking issues and balance problems can make matches frustrating. Certain player abilities feel overpowered, making competitive games less about skill and more about exploiting the strongest characters.
The soundtrack and atmosphere do their best to create an exciting environment, but they can't compensate for the lack of long-term appeal. After a few hours, NBA THE RUN starts to feel repetitive, with little incentive to keep coming back beyond unlocking cosmetic items.
What's most disappointing is that the game shows flashes of brilliance. The arcade basketball genre has plenty of potential, but NBA THE RUN doesn't do enough to build on its foundations. With more content, better balancing, and additional game modes, it could become something special. As it stands, though, it feels unfinished and lacking in ambition.
NBA THE RUN isn't a complete disaster, as there are moments of genuine fun, especially with friends, but they're too few and too far between to make up for the repetitive gameplay and lack of content. Fans of arcade sports games may find some enjoyment here, but most players will likely move on after the novelty wears off.
As someone who loves the NBA and basketball games in general, I really did hope that someone other than 2K making a game would help reinvigorate the basketball genre, so we are not locked into playing only one NBA game year on year. Unfortunately, NBA The Run falls so far short of being a decent alternative to 2K's long-running basketball series.
Developer - Play by Play Studios
Publisher - Play by Play Studios
Released - June 9th, 2026
Available On - PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rated - (E) - No Descriptors
Platform Reviewed - Xbox Series X
Review Access - A review code for NBA The Run was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
James, has been a gamer for as long as he can remember with a particular passion for sports games, shooters and adventure games. He only started writing reviews last year over at The Outerhaven, but has quickly become extremely passionate about this part of the industry.