The game is viewed from a first-person perspective. Missions send the player through resistance bases, ruined streets, industrial areas, and Skynet facilities to rescue allies, destroy targets, recover equipment, or reach an extraction point.

The player explores 3D environments, uses firearms and explosives, manages ammunition and health, and fights Terminators and other machines. Some missions include driving or operating vehicles. Progression follows a campaign structure in which completed objectives and recovered equipment support later missions.

Conserve ammunition for heavily armored machines and search each area for supplies before advancing. Use cover, keep moving during encounters, and learn enemy attack patterns rather than trading damage in the open.

Read mission objectives carefully and explore side rooms for weapons, armor, and useful equipment. Save frequently, especially before vehicle sequences or major objectives, because later encounters can become difficult quickly.