Tänzer is a hack and slash action-platform game reminiscent of Hagane: The Final Conflict, Osman and Strider, where players assume the role of a ballerina whose body was transformed to fight against enemies and bosses through multiple stages in a post-apocalyptic setting.

[2] After completing a stage, players can buy items such as additional "Transmutation" abilities via gold currency dropped by defeated enemies along the way.

[2] Tillander stated that the project was influenced by games like Strider and Osman, artists such as Keita Amemiya and Roger Dean, as well as the anime series Guyver.

[3][4][5] When looking for an idea to his project, Tillander stated that he remembered Hagane: The Final Conflict and settled on making a hack and slash platform-esque game for the Sega Mega Drive.

[9] Pixelated Gamer's Dan Adcock gave the original Sega Mega Drive release a highly positive review, praising various aspects such as the visuals, gameplay and difficulty.