In addition to the classic board game style of play, Risk II introduced new modes including a single-player tournament and a brand new concept called SameTime, in which turns are taken simultaneously by all players.

Available computer opponents are an assortment of mostly 18th and 19th century generals: Campbell, Mackenzie, Marmont, Barbacena, D'Erlon, Maransin, Solignac, Sherbrooke, Aubert, Spencer, Taupin, Freire, Vauban, Baird, Bonaparte and Wellington.

Classic style employs the standard rules of Risk (depending on version, see below), which is one attack move at a time from one location.

As a result, the ranks range from white, yellow, orange, red (dark), and a deep black.

Since the battle greatly favors the side that uses mass invasions (they get more dice), sitting back and defending is not a good idea.

In addition, since the enemy is only allowed one surge attack per round, the damage he can do to the player's inner territory is limited.

In the U.S. version, the "trade-on-the-fly rule," which forces a player to trade cards in the middle of a turn if he or she has more than the 5-card maximum, is in effect.

In Computer Gaming World, Ken Brown wrote that Risk II "delivers enough gameplay and play options to satisfy just about anyone".

Although he criticized its online multiplayer mode, he summarized the game as "a 'must buy' for all gamers, regardless of the niche in which they usually dwell.

"[6] Writing for PC Zone, Richie Shoemaker praised Risk II as an improvement over its predecessor, and called the game's Same Time mode a "minor masterpiece".

He concluded, "Best of all, however, is that for once, someone — in this case developer Deep Red — has recreated a classic board game successfully to PC and done it well.