The game uses a top-down perspective. Dr. Grant explores separate areas of the park, searches for useful objects, avoids or fights dinosaurs, and works toward objectives needed to escape the island.

Progress depends on exploring routes, collecting equipment, managing ammunition, and finding ways through blocked or dangerous sections. The game is primarily a single-player adventure with continuous exploration rather than a stage-based score attack.

Explore methodically and remember important locations, because the park’s layout can be confusing. Conserve ammunition for dangerous encounters instead of firing at every dinosaur.

Search side paths for equipment and useful items, and retreat when an encounter is unfavorable. Careful route planning is often more valuable than aggressive combat.