Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a classic platformer where you control Alex as he navigates through side-scrolling levels. Your goal is to avoid enemy attacks and collect coins by defeating enemies or finding treasure chests. You can also use special items such as a pedicopter with a gun, a pogo-stick, and an invulnerability cloak to help you on your quest.
The game features mini-games like Janken, where you play rock-paper-scissors against bosses to defeat them. However, losing the mini-game results in death, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game. You can also use Janken to buy items from shops, but only if you win.