Cliffhanger follows the story of Gabe Walker, an expert in high mountain search and rescue. He receives a distress signal from a plane that has crashed nearby. As it turns out, the plane was hijacked by terrorists carrying cash. The game is an action-packed side-scroller where Gabe can walk, run, jump, punch, and kick while in mid-air. He also performs special actions like crossing suspended ropes to navigate through treacherous terrain.
The gameplay focuses on navigating Gabe through challenging environments, avoiding obstacles like wolves, falling snow, and rocks. The player must use Gabe's abilities wisely to overcome these hazards and progress through the levels.