The player controls the game's main protagonist and is tasked to demolish a series of bombs located on 60 islands, taking place across six different environments.

As the player advances, additional hazards are added to make the game more challenging, such as moving platforms, spikes coming through the ground, and slippery surfaces that prevent him from pushing bombs across.

[4][3][6] Besides changing the graphics, a four-player versus mode was also added wherein players can control Charlie or one of three other characters and must conquer as much of the land as possible with one's own bomb blasts.

[7][8] GameSpot criticized the graphics and the sound of the former version, and called it a decent puzzle game in a substandard package.

[17][d] Nintendo Power gave Charlie's Blast Territory a mixed review, a few months before the game was released Stateside.