Wangan Midnight Portable is a racing game based on the Wangan Midnight manga. The story follows various characters as they navigate the streets of Tokyo and participate in high-speed races. In the Arcade mode, players roam around freely, encountering opponents who trigger battle modes where cars race each other. Each car has a life gauge that is drained for the trailing car, ending the race when time runs out or one of the cars loses all meter.
The gameplay features various modes, including Scenario, Time Attack, Tuning, and VS. In Scenario mode, players compete against specific rivals over twelve series, interspersed with story sequences based on the manga. The VS mode allows for multiplayer games with up to four racers simultaneously, either as a race or a time trial. Tuning challenges help players earn additional parts, while the Replay Theater displays replays of races.
The game includes licensed cars from Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota, as well as Custom and Special cars. Players can customize their vehicles with paint kits, body color, body parts, bonnet, rear spoiler, and wheels to enhance their performance.