Gauntlet IV is a port of the arcade original with additional modes available. The game features up to four players using Sega's four-player adapter, each choosing from Thor the Warrior , Thyra the Valkyrie , Merlin the Wizard , and Questor the Elf , with unique advantages and disadvantages.
The game includes three main modes: Quest, Battle, and Record. In Quest mode, players aim to defeat four towers and solve the mystery of an ancient castle. The main hub area allows players to choose which tower to tackle next, purchase weapons from merchants, and increase stats using experience points.
In Battle mode, players can fight each other in maps featuring teleporters, monsters, items, and exits that exclude certain opponents. Record mode is similar to the Arcade mode but with variations such as a password-continue feature and a scoring system where players lose points for every 500 health lost.