Teslagrad is a side-scrolling platformer with strong puzzle elements. The protagonist is a boy who finds himself inside the mysterious Tesla Tower, a place filled with fictional technology inspired by Nikola Tesla's work. The game communicates without words.
The player moves through the tower, which can be freely explored, but generally follows an upward path with limited branching paths. To progress, the player must use special abilities to solve puzzles based on magnetic fields. Objects have different coloured magnetic fields - objects of different colours are attracted to each other, while those of the same colour are repelled. The player has gloves that allow them to change the polarity of objects. As they progress, more abilities and gadgets are earned, such as a cannon to change polarity over distances or a short-distance teleport to pass deadly obstacles unharmed.
The puzzles are often embedded in platforming challenges that require precise jumping and quick reactions. There are also a few boss battles to overcome. Overall, Teslagrad is an action-packed adventure game that requires skill, strategy, and a bit of luck to complete.