The story of Bomberman Max Red Challenger revolves around the character Max, who is similar to Bomberman but with distinct differences in appearance. The main objective remains the same as its predecessor, Blue Champion: plant bombs to clear paths, destroy enemies, and collect Charabombs. These creatures serve a purpose similar to Pokémon, where players raise and train them to fight against other opponents.
The gameplay of Bomberman Max Red Challenger is largely focused on action and adventure elements. Players control Max as he navigates through levels, planting bombs to clear obstacles and enemies in his way. The addition of Charabombs adds a social element, as players can link up with another Game Boy Color console and the Blue Champion Edition to collect all the available Charabombs and complete the game's story.