Levels range from the major futuristic city known as Mega-City One, a prison in a post-nuclear wasteland, ruins and a showdown with the rogue Judge Rico Dredd.

Eventually, Dredd defeats Rico and wins a final battle with the Dark Judges to rescue Mega-City.

[13] Similarly, GamePro criticized the game's lack of originality but praised the large levels, selection of weapons, and the ability to arrest enemies instead of killing them.

"[18] Next Generation reviewed the Genesis version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "in the end, Judge Dredd is guilty of one thing, it's yet another side-scroller.

"[15] Next Generation reviewed the SNES version of the game, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "while it's well animated and tightly designed, that still doesn't make Judge Dredd very interesting.