Gameplay involves rotating the stage 90 degrees either clockwise or counterclockwise, causing all the unfixed objects to fall downward due to gravity.

Senoo would go on to be the main creator and project lead on the puzzle game Kowloon City.

[6] An overseas localization was handled by Natsume Inc. in North America on March 31, 2003, and distributed by Zoo Digital Publishing in Europe late that same year.

[10] A free browser rendition of Turnabout was made available by J-Game on its Java-based, Japanese gaming website starting on January 21, 2001.

[11] A versus mode was added that let players compete against one another or the computer to solve a set of three random puzzles in the least number of steps.

[12] A mobile port of Turnabout for iPhone and iPod Touch was distributed by BB Soft Service in Japan on March 5, 2010.

It received a favorable review from Roy Rybicki of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, who noted its addictive gameplay and challenge.

He thought highly of its Edit Mode and soundtrack, proclaiming the latter as "sometimes jazzy, sometimes trancey" and that it "never gets too repetitive or intrusive."

He felt that the game, being a budget title, lacked certain appealing features like a two-player mode and variety in its stage graphics.