Kage moves through horizontally scrolling stages while jumping between platforms, climbing upward, and fighting waves of soldiers, ninjas, and supernatural enemies. The main objective is to reach the castle and rescue Princess Kiri, then continue through increasingly difficult cycles.

The player can slash nearby enemies with Kage’s sword or throw shuriken from a distance. Jumping, crouching, and moving through tree branches help avoid attacks. Defeated enemies may leave power-ups that improve Kage’s offensive ability temporarily. The game has a single-player arcade-style campaign rather than multiple selectable modes.

Keep moving rather than fighting every enemy on the ground. Use jumps and tree branches to pass crowded areas, and attack dangerous opponents from a distance with shuriken.

Save wide jumps for safe platforms and avoid landing among groups of soldiers. Learn enemy entry points, use sword attacks only when opponents are close, and prioritize survival over collecting every power-up.