You must catch pastries from six conveyor belts before they fall on the floor. Each pastry caught is boxed and put behind you. Sometimes, a knife and fork come down the conveyor belt. If you are hit by the utensils or miss a pastry, the janitor has to clean it up. If he has to clean up too many times, he gets upset and storms out and game over.
Cakewalk gameplay involves navigating the conveyor belts while avoiding obstacles like knives and forks. You can control the speed of the belt by pressing the button or using the joystick to push it forward. The game has different levels with varying difficulty, and you can choose which level to start on using the left switch.
The objective is to catch as many pastries as possible while avoiding obstacles, and each successful level brings you a cup of coffee that gives you an extra life. There are various game variations available, including ones with added challenges or speed-ups, offering different experiences for players.