The game uses a first-person perspective. Duke must fight invading aliens, collect weapons and ammunition, find access cards, activate switches, and reach the exit of each level. The episode contains three levels: Hollywood Holocaust, Red Light District, and Death Row.

Players can run, strafe, jump, swim, use environmental objects, and search for hidden rooms. Health, armor, weapons, ammunition, and inventory items support progression, while secret areas reward careful exploration. The episode is primarily a single-player campaign.

Explore every room before leaving an area. Look for cracked walls, unusual textures, switches, vents, and alternate routes, since secret areas often contain ammunition, armor, or powerful weapons.

Conserve explosive ammunition for groups of enemies and tougher targets. Keep moving during fights, use the environment for cover, and save inventory items for situations where their specific effects are useful.