Captain America and the Avengers is a one- to four-player side-scrolling beat 'em up where four Marvel Comics licensed heroes take on the evil Red Skull. The game consists of five stages, primarily focusing on side-scrolling brawler gameplay, but some levels also feature side-scrolling shooting stages.
The game features a range of bosses, including Living Laser and Klaw, Whirlwind, Grim Reaper, Wizard, Mandarin, Juggernaut, Ultron, Controller, Crossbones, and the Red Skull. The heroes are aided by Quicksilver, who drops energy replenishments, and the Wasp, who adds protection and firepower in certain areas.