N+

The game features boss battles against rival pirates and their henchmen, who try to destroy the barrels or lock them in place. Special barrels appear on some levels, such as unchained kegs that need keys from other barrels to be unlocked, and ring barrels that turn the entire column to gold.

The objective of each level is displayed at the start of each round, usually requiring the player to collect a certain number of stocks (columns with three barrels) or superstocks (five-barrel columns). Completing these objectives earns the player points, which unlocks extra game modes when the stage ends. These modes offer variations on the gameplay, such as continuous levels in classic mode or infinite lives in endless mode.