Adventure Island is an action-adventure game where Master Higgins, the player character, must rescue his cavegirl from aliens who plan to take over the Earth. The gameplay is similar to its predecessor, Adventure Island II , with Master Higgins walking through levels and fighting enemies. One hit will result in death unless he has a power-up, such as a weapon or skateboard, that improves his speed and agility.
The game introduces dinosaurs as mounts, offering unique abilities like flying or shooting fireballs. These power-ups can be chosen before each level and saved for later use. The game features eight worlds with different themes, represented by an overhead map, and occasional alternate paths. At the end of each world, Master Higgins must face a boss.