In Robby Roto, the player digs through a dirt-filled maze collecting items while avoiding pursuing creatures.

[2] The player controls the titular character who enters an underground maze to rescue trapped miners and collect treasures.

The goal of each level is to return the trapped miners to the surface, and only one path, at the top center or the map, leads outward.

Robby can temporarily render the enemies impotent with the Robo Device, which can be collected in the maze, and use this to recapture the miners.

Co-developer Dave Nutting claimed, "it was a very complex game and those who played it found themselves on the defensive—most were intimidated.