The game uses a first-person perspective. Samus travels through interconnected areas, scans objects and enemies, solves environmental puzzles, collects weapons and upgrades, and defeats guardians and other bounty hunters.

The story campaign is organized around visits to multiple planets and stations in the Alimbic Cluster. Different weapons open routes or exploit enemy weaknesses, while alternate bounty hunters can be encountered in combat. Multiplayer supports arenas, teams, capture modes, and other competitive variations, with several playable hunters.

Scan every new creature, weapon, and environmental object. Scans provide lore and can reveal information useful for identifying hazards or progression clues.

Learn each rival hunter's alternate form and weapon behavior before fighting them. In multiplayer, keep moving, use cover, and choose a hunter whose special weapon suits the arena and ruleset.