GATEWAY TO APSHAI is a one-player action-adventure. You, the heir of Apshai's greatest warrior. are trying to find and reclaim a safe passageway through an underground labyrinth to the fabled, lost Temple of Apshai. Your objective is to successfully complete all eight levels, scoring as many points as you can. You complete each level by moving your figure on the screen with your joystick, through a dungeon maze, fighting off monsters and avoiding traps, while picking up treasures in order to score points.

At the start of the game. you have 5 lives to complete the game. You have approximately six and one-half minute's time to explore as much of each level as you can. After six and one-half minutes, you are automatically teleported to the start of the next deeper level.