A Welcome Return To Arcade Basketball
Lately, sports video games have almost become life simulators. Games like EA FC 26 and NBA 2K26 take you on a journey with the players outside the actual sport itself. Here, you might be dealing with playing contracts, where they are living, what they are wearing, and even which sponsorship deals to take.
Old-school sports games had none of this fluff. They were all about the game itself – quick, fast, and arcade-based. And the old-school NBA games were fast-paced 3v3 experiences where it was all about end-to-end, high-speed fun. NBA THE RUN is very much that kind of game. But what is that experience like in 2026? We found out.
I remember playing NBA Jam many moons ago, with friends after a few drinks back in the 90s. You had flaming dunks, and modes where all the players had giant heads, but it was the pick-up-and-play gameplay that kept you coming back for more. Now, almost 30 years later, would that style of gameplay still work for me with my ageing reflexes and the different breed of sports games I’ve been playing over the last few decades? Having reviewed the last few NBA 2K games, stepping away from that detailed basketball simulation into something much more basic was a struggle at first. But then the fun began.
Simple Modes Focus On Fast Matches
The first thing that struck me as I loaded up the game was the limited number of options on the main menu. You can either jump straight into a knockout competition, which we’ll come to in a second, or head into a training mode. Training puts you out on the court so you can get used to the controls and practise dribbling, stealing, shooting, dunks, and special moves. It’s perfectly fine, but it’s only for one player, which feels a little odd, meaning you have to learn the passing side of the game as you play.
The next step is jumping into a match. Here you have three options. You can play online, choosing your favourite player before waiting for two teammates to join your quest for glory. You can create a private game to play with friends against other friends, or you can play solo with two CPU-controlled teammates.
Your goal is to win a four-round knockout competition. Reach the end and you’ll be crowned champion, earning experience points that unlock new players and cosmetic items. Then it’s simply a case of repeating the loop as many times as you like.
Multiplayer Is Where The Fun Begins
The gameplay in NBA THE RUN is fast and frantic, and you’ll only improve by spending time with it and learning its rhythms and little quirks. The boost mechanic is particularly enjoyable, rewarding you with moments of brilliance once you’ve built up your meter. Stealing the ball is also a huge part of the game, meaning you can’t simply dribble around waiting to draw a foul – it’s not that kind of basketball. Matches are also very short, often ending once a team reaches 11 points, so games can last only a few minutes, but they’re packed with intensity.
There is a good roster of more than 40 players to unlock, mixing real-life stars with fictional characters. I do wish there had been more of a story mode or a stronger single-player experience though, because, unless you fully buy into the multiplayer side of things, there isn’t a huge amount of depth elsewhere.
Strong Style Gives The Game Plenty Of Personality
The game has a cool hand-drawn, cartoon-like visual style that deliberately avoids the realism found in other basketball games. The courts all look great, with a handful of different locations helping to keep things fresh, although the action is so fast you rarely have time to appreciate the details. The menus are clean and easy to navigate, while the player animations are impressive. The soundtrack suits the action well too, although it does become a little repetitive after a while. And, of course, don’t expect the detailed commentary you’d find in the NBA 2K series.
An Enjoyable Throwback To Basketball’s Arcade Days
So, does NBA THE RUN recapture those wonderful memories of 90s arcade basketball? Well… yes and no. It absolutely has that brilliant pick-up-and-play feel I remember so fondly. It’s a much less serious experience than today’s simulation-heavy basketball games, and because of that, it’s arguably more fun, even if it’s less deep.
I do think it’s a shame that the solo experience feels a little lacking, as it’s something many will tire of fairly quickly. However, online or with friends is where NBA THE RUN really comes alive, allowing its competitive spirit to shine.
Basically, if you fancy becoming a street baller, NBA THE RUN is well worth checking out.
Important Links
NBA THE RUN Wants To Change How Basketball Games Are Played – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nba-the-run-wants-to-change-how-basketball-games-are-played/
NBA THE RUN Takes it Back to the Streets with 3v3 Arcade Hoops – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nba-the-run-takes-it-back-to-the-streets-with-3v3-arcade-hoops/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/nba-the-run/9p9868m45nqz
