Sidewinder is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up that deviates from the standard in its use of horizontal scrolling. As you progress across the screen, new areas become visible, revealing an assortment of enemies. The level set includes a mix of stationary turrets and waves of enemies.
The game comprises 6 levels, each commencing and concluding with the player navigating through a tunnel. Upon emerging on the opposite side, players are confronted with a distinct environment, ranging from industrial to woodland settings. Following completion of the final level, the tunnel loop continues back to the starting point, rendering the game devoid of a definitive conclusion.
Players can select from 3 difficulty levels and engage in 2-player mode. The six levels gradually intensify in terms of enemy density and turret placement.
Sidewinder was released on various platforms, including the Amiga and PC, as well as a coin-operated arcade machine. Its arcade counterpart mirrors the Amiga version, while the arcade PCB contains elements of the Amiga operating system.