It has been far too long since we have had a true arcade style basketball game. The kind with rim shattering finishes, relentless pace, and playful trash talk that made NBA Jam and NBA Street unforgettable. That void might finally be filled with NBA THE RUN, (formally known as The Run: Got Next!), a brand new 3v3 streetball experience from Play by Play Studio, which is a studio that many, myself included, may not have heard of, but ironically, it’s comprised of gaming industry veterans that worked on numerous games, which includes NBA Street.
Check out the trailer for the game.
According to Play by Play, NBA THE RUN aims to brings the energy and swagger of real streetball back to video games, where skill meets style and highlight reels matter as much as the score. You can play solo or run squads in 3v3 knockout tournaments across famous courts like Venice Beach and The Tenement in Taguig, Philippines. The team promises fast, fluid play backed by true rollback netcode, so you cannot blame lag when you get dunked on.
I’m optimistic but also cautious
Let’s be honest, basketball gaming has been stuck in the simulation lane for years. NBA 2K dominates, but there has not been a real alternative for players who just want to have fun. No contract drama, no nickel and diming for accessories, just pure, skill driven street hoops. NBA THE RUN comes at an idea time. It is poised to revive a whole style of basketball gaming that has been missing for more than a decade. And let’s be honest, we’ve all missed this style of gaming.
I grew up games such as on NBA Give ’n Go, NBA Hangtime, NBA In the Zone, NBA Run and Gun, NBA Jam, and NBA Street, which might be my favorite of them all. So, I want to love this. But I have to be honest, the teaser trailer did not impress me. The art direction looks slick, yet some animations appear stiff and a little robotic, which undercuts the flair that arcade basketball needs to shine. Maybe that footage was not final, and the live gameplay will look and feel much better. This kind of game has to feel alive. The dunks should hit, the crossovers should pop, and the flow should make you feel like you are on the blacktop.
Oh, and I really hope it has a banging soundtrack. because you can’t have a Streetball game without some tunes that make you wanna play.
Even so, I am rooting for it. If NBA THE RUN manages to capture what made those classics special, we could be in for something fun. Crossing all my fingers for this.
NBA THE RUN is set for 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on PC.
