Rambo: The Video Game is a first-person shooter based on the three Rambo action movies starring Sylvester Stallone, released between 1982 and 1988. It consists of a series of sequences from the three movies in chronological order, preceded by a flashback tutorial level set in Vietnam. The gameplay is based around the rail shooter concept and does not offer freedom of movement. Instead, the camera guides the player through the levels while the player moves the cross-hair in a first-person view to take out enemies. These are often combined with non-lethal takedowns using quick time events.
The gameplay involves lots of enemy kills, with the player rewarded with a multiplier for linking kills. Some enemies have an exclamation mark over their head and need to be killed quickly, or their shots are lethal. Other elements include a cover system through arrows on the screen, active reload for double ammunition, and a kill cam for precise shots. As players fight Rambo, a wrath meter builds up, allowing time to slow down, unlimited ammo, and enemies to glow orange, providing health when killed. Completing sections earns experience, which can be used to assign skill points and unlock perks. Optional challenges by Colonel Trautman provide an opportunity to choose weapons for each level.