Double Dragon uses a side-view scrolling perspective. The main objective is to defeat enemy waves and reach the end of each stage, where a boss or especially strong opponent may appear.

Billy can walk, jump, punch, kick, and use weapons dropped by enemies. Attacks can be combined with movement and jumping to create different strikes, while enemies use knives, bats, whips, and grappling attacks.

Progression is stage-based. The player advances through a fixed sequence of locations, loses health from enemy attacks and hazards, and must complete the current stage before moving on.

Preserve health before boss encounters by avoiding unnecessary trades and using weapons quickly.

• Throw or strike with dropped weapons before they disappear.
• Use jumping attacks to approach dangerous enemies and avoid some ground-level threats.
• Separate groups when possible instead of allowing several enemies to surround Billy.
• Learn boss attack ranges and punish their recovery rather than attacking continuously.