The player goal is to collect all dots in the maze while avoiding collisions with the computer-controlled car that is travelling in the opposite direction.

Originally, the rounds in Head On were dictated by a timer as most games of the 1970s were, but Taito's Space Invaders introduced the concept of lives.

[4] It was Japan's fourth highest-grossing arcade game of 1979, below Space Invaders, Galaxian and Sega's Monaco GP.

[6] Head On was also the fourth highest-earning arcade video game of 1979 in the United States, below Space Invaders, Football and Sprint 2.

[7] Head On's relation to Pac-Man (1980) as a game about collecting dots inside of a maze-like structure has been noted by commentators and historians.

Several evolutions on the Head On formula released in 1979 including Space Chaser (1979) and Car Hunt (1979) bear further resemblance to Pac-Man.

Sega's Car Hunt (1979), informally known as Head On III, added elements to the game such as a more complex maze, elevated roadways, the ability to turn in any direction, and enemy vehicles of varying aggression towards the player.

[18][19] Konami's Fast Lane arcade game, released in 1987, highly resembles Head On with improved graphics and some additional features.