Cyber-Lip uses a horizontal side-scrolling perspective. The objective is to advance through each stage, defeat waves of mechanical enemies, avoid hazards, and destroy a large boss at the end of the area.

Players move, jump, and fire in several directions while collecting weapon upgrades. Stages are linear but include platforms, elevators, hazards, and occasional changes in height. The game is built around limited continues and repeated attempts rather than a persistent character-progression system.

Conserve powerful weapon pickups for dense enemy formations and bosses rather than spending them immediately. Keep moving while firing, since stationary players are easy targets for projectiles and approaching machines.

Learn the timing of each boss pattern before committing to an attack. In two-player games, spread out when possible so both players do not lose a life to the same hazard, but stay close enough to maintain pressure on bosses.