The deep-sea adventure begins with Big Blue, a treasure hunting diver exploring the unknown depths of the ocean. From the comfort of a ship, the diver descends into the darkness, navigating through treacherous waters filled with giant eels, squids, and sharks. The goal is to locate hidden treasures and collect schools of fish while managing a limited air supply.
Gameplay involves diving down through single screens linked together vertically, each screen representing a different depth level. The difficulty increases as you progress, and the diver must avoid deadly sea creatures while searching for precious loot. Along the way, you'll also need to keep an eye on your dwindling air supply, which can be replenished by collecting small bubbles floating upwards.
A bonus game and calibration options provide additional challenges and settings. In this bonus mode, you control a fish as it navigates a fixed screen, avoiding enemy creatures that swim by from right to left. Your goal is to survive for as long as possible while scoring points by "bombing" squids. Completing the main game also unlocks an overview of the treasure collected and the different fish species encountered.