Salmon Run was the first game in Williams's career, followed by a string of successes noted for their oddball concepts.

[1] The player takes the role of Sam the Salmon, swimming upriver to mate.

Along the way there are a series of rapids which will stop Sam's motion upriver until he jumps them by pressing the fire button.

More dangerous are the bears, fishermen and seagulls that will kill Sam instantly if caught, but can be avoided by careful swimming or hiding underwater.

The magazine praised the "outstanding ... remarkably lifelike" sound effects, and concluded that "Salmon Run is a charming game that gives the player a genuine sense of ecological accomplishment; it's also quick to learn and quite contagious".