X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up where the X-Men must fight their way through enemies under Apocalypse's rule to reach the Warp Gate and return home. The team consists of Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and Rogue, with more characters unlocking as they progress through the game.
The gameplay focuses on traditional punching, throwing, and special attacks, with a power meter that grows throughout the game. This allows the heroes to unleash powerful mutant attacks that can take out multiple enemies at once. Players can earn points to enhance their characters' abilities, and the game features two-player simultaneous gameplay mode as well as Versus modes for up to four players.