Rambo is a side-scrolling platform game where the player controls Rambo on his mission to Vietnam. The game begins at the military base before sending Rambo to Vietnam, where he must navigate through jungles, swamps, and caves filled with various animals. He also faces off against guards and mercenaries, who can attack him in different ways depending on their shirt color. To progress, Rambo must find north and south points on the ground to move up and down levels as well as east and west by moving around the screen. The player has access to six weapons: a knife, throwing knives, a bow with arrows, explosive arrows, a gun, and a hand grenade. Each weapon, except for the knife, comes with limited ammo that can be collected from defeated enemies. Health vials also restore Rambo's health, while mission-specific items are necessary to complete certain objectives. The game uses password saves that can be retrieved by talking to other characters.