Conflict is a hex-based NES war game where the player is a commander who must lead their forces to victory.

The player can earn fame points by occupying cities and airports and destroying units of the opponent's army; fame points are lost by losing units of one's army in battle or retreating from battles.

The computer always starts with more fame points than the player; since this state of affairs tends to produce an increasingly overwhelming materiel advantage if left unaddressed, the goal of depleting the computer's fame points, usually by destroying powerful red Army units, tends to be a high priority at the beginning of the game.

The hexagons can be plains, woods, mountains, barren terrain, shoals, seas, bridges, airports, towns, or factories.

The terrain in each hexagon has an effect on maneuverability and the extent to which forces can take evasive action.