The game is turn-based with each side giving movement and attack orders within a time limit.

Ships resupply by capturing bases and storehouses or pulling into friendly harbors.

Victory conditions vary from escorting freighters to a destination or completely destroying an enemy force.

Aside from the battles taking place in real-time, Super Battleship is essentially a strategy game with a relatively slow pace.

Although the missions are the same, the graphics are significantly improved in the SNES version, as well as the difficulty reduced.