Breakaway is played on a 27' x 54' carpeted field, which is divided into three sections by 13 1/2 inch bumps. Robots can move from section to section by driving over the bumps or by traveling through an approximately 36 inch wide by 18 inch high tunnel underneath.

The game itself is similar to soccer; two alliances of three robots each attempt to shoot soccer balls into their goals, which are located at the corners of the field. Teams seek to score in the goals on the same side of the field as their drivers' station and to defend the goals on the opposite side. Each ball scored gives the alliance 1 point.

The first 15 seconds of the match is Autonomous Mode, where robots are on "auto drive." For the next two minutes of play, the robots are remotely controlled by student operators.

In the final 20 seconds of the match, robots can score bonus points by hanging on a tower (2 bonus points) or off a teammate who is hanging on the tower (3 bonus points).