Ride to Hell: Retribution is an action game that combines different gameplay elements. The game is set in America in 1969 and follows Jake Conway, a biker and Vietnam veteran, as he seeks vengeance for his brother's murder by a rival gang.
The game features various types of gameplay, including driving sections on a bike while fighting off enemies, on-foot sections with exploration and combat, and rail shooter sections where Jake is a sidecar gunner. Other elements include chases, pursuits, deliveries, hunting, and saving girls. The story progresses through cut-scenes, and new locations are often reached after long driving sections. Most missions have time limits, and Jake's bike can be customized with decals, paint jobs, and body parts.