PlayStation 3 · 2011
Need for Speed: The Run
A linear cross-country race from San Francisco to New York, packed with overtaking, weather, and short on-foot quick-time sequences.
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Format
- Blu-ray Disc
- Genre
- racing video game
- Released
- 2011
01
Overview
Need for Speed: The Run puts you behind the wheel of Jack Rourke, a racer trying to earn his way out of a debt with a 3,000-mile race across the United States. The campaign moves through real-world-inspired locations and changes pace between traffic-dense city sections, open stretches, and scripted action moments. Unlike many other Need for Speed titles, it is mostly linear, with a clear route and a steady push toward the finish line rather than free-roaming streets.
02
Why it matters
The Run was the last Need for Speed game developed by EA Black Box before the studio closed, making it a useful marker for the end of that era. Its straight-across-the-country structure also stands out in a series better known for open cities, which helps explain why it remains a distinct entry in the franchise's history.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete retail copy includes the game's Blu-ray Disc, the keep case, and the printed instruction manual. Some markets and special variants added extra in-game vehicles or challenges, so packaging and bonus content should be confirmed for the exact edition being considered.
04
Playing it today
The game is best experienced as a focused, story-driven racing campaign, so set aside enough time to play through the route in one or two sittings. It is a PS3 title, and online features such as Autolog may no longer be available, so the single-player race is the main thing to try today.