Wizard of Wor is an arcade shooter played from a top-down point of view. The player controls a "Worrior" who is trapped in a dungeon. The goal is to earn as many points as possible by shooting the numerous enemy creatures which wander about the maze-like corridors. The game features various enemy types with different speeds and abilities, such as dart-shooting creatures that can also disappear temporarily. At the bottom of the screen, the player has a radar that helps locate invisible enemies.
Completing a maze earns rewards, including the appearance of the Worluk creature, which moves rapidly but can be destroyed for a bonus. Occasionally, the game's boss, the Wizard of Wor, appears, and defeating him rewards the player with a large number of points.
The game supports one or two-player modes. In multiplayer mode, players can cooperate to defeat enemies, but shooting each other's Warriors can grant a high score bonus, leading to competitive gameplay.