Set in a post-apocalyptic New York, Double Dragon tells the story of Billy and Jimmy Lee, twin brothers trained in the fighting style of Sou-Setsu-Ken. Together, they manage a small martial arts training school, teaching their students in self-defense. One day, Billy's girlfriend, Marian, is kidnapped off the street by the "Black Warriors", a savage street gang led by a man named Willy. The Black Warriors demand the Lee brothers disclose their martial arts secrets in exchange for Marian's freedom. The Lee brothers set out on a rescue mission to crush the Black Warriors and save Marian.
The gameplay involves using various techniques, such as punches, kicks, and invulnerable elbow strikes, along with any objects that come into their hands, to pursue the gang through different environments like city slums, industrial areas, and forests before reaching their hideout to confront the big boss, Willy.
The NES version of this game also features an additional VS. fighting mode for one or two players. Players can choose from six different characters (Billy and five enemy characters) and engage in a one-on-one fighting match, where punches, kicks, jumpkicks, and weapon usage are used until someone's health bar is fully drained. The last player standing wins.