Parents' Guide to

SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run

By Chris Morris, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Average runner game retread has lots of in-app purchases.

App iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android Paid Arcade Games
SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run App: Screenshot #1
  • SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run App: Screenshot #2
  • SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run App: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

logan S.
logan S. Parent of 4-year-old
April 17, 2023
age 18+

HORRIBLE

Please explain why when I looked at my 4 yr old son's tablet i saw spongebob violently Ra**ing the "sandy" character then he started to run from the police because as he said "They found my cocaine stash" and then was shot 13 times in the body. Im frustrated with the horrible message this sends to my kids. very angry!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
December 17, 2021
age 6+

Frosty the snowman

See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

As with most endless-runner games, there's a threadbare plot to SPONGEBOB: SPONGE ON THE RUN. You run, trying to dodge obstacles and collect coins, swiping up to jump or down to slide. Swiping side to side lets you switch lanes. And, after picking up enough cotton-candy icons, SpongeBob will transform into Super SpongeBob, who can knock through any obstacle in his path. 

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (5):

SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run may have a familiar set of characters, but it has an even more familiar style of gameplay -- and the app does nothing to make it unique. Young kids may enjoy the endless runner and occasional power-ups, but any tween, teen, or adult who isn't obsessed with the character will quickly get a "been there, done that" feeling. The heavy use of in-app purchases combined with a much-too-high price tag make this not worth the buy. There are better choices for kids who love SpongeBob.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how varied types of media handle the same content in different ways. How is SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run different from the movie?

  • Ask your kids why they want to play: Was it the game itself or SpongeBob that made you want to play? Would you like the game if SpongeBob weren't in it?

  • Explore what your kids know about the ocean and its creatures. Are any of the characters in the game realistic?

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended app lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate