The player views the action from a first-person perspective and advances through Strogg facilities, military bases, and industrial areas. Objectives include reaching extraction points, destroying installations, rescuing personnel, and collecting access items that open new routes.

Combat relies on strafing, aiming, weapon selection, and ammunition management. Levels contain switches, elevators, secret areas, armor, health, and power-ups. The campaign is divided into missions and episodes, with new weapons and tougher enemies introduced as progress continues. The N64 version also supports multiplayer modes for competitive matches and cooperative play, depending on the selected game setup.

Explore each area before moving on, since switches and objectives are often placed away from the main route. Conserve stronger ammunition for heavily armored Strogg and use ordinary weapons against weaker enemies.

Keep moving during firefights. Strafing around cover is safer than standing still, and listening for enemy sounds can reveal threats in nearby rooms. Search for armor, health, and secret areas before major encounters, but avoid wasting time revisiting cleared sections without a clear objective.