Karate is a fighting game for two players or one player against the computer where you aim to earn a black belt by winning fights in a series. Your goal is to defeat your opponent(s) and gain points from successful kicks and punches, each with its own worth.
The gameplay involves using the joystick to move and a button to punch or kick, depending on the direction you move it in. Each fight lasts for two minutes, after which the points earned are added up to determine the winner. The game features two difficulty levels that players can choose from.