Judge Dredd is set in the dystopian city of Mega-City One, where a hostage crisis has left the mayor among those taken captive. The Judge Dredd game follows the titular character as he navigates through 14 levels across four stages to clear the lawbreakers and rescue his colleagues.
The gameplay revolves around shooting enemies and obstacles using the Lawgiver gun, which can be upgraded with various ammunition types such as rapid fire and heat-seekers. Power-ups like medikits, extra lives, and rockets are also scattered throughout the environments. However, it's essential to avoid harming innocent civilians, as hitting too many of them will result in a game over.
Throughout the game, live-action cutscenes provide insight into the storyline between levels. The action is set on a fixed path through pre-rendered environments, with some enemies and obstacles being 3D models overlaid onto the video backdrop. Others, such as gun turrets and bosses like hovertanks, are stationary objects that can be shot at.