Xyanide is a shoot 'em up game in which players navigate six 3D levels that alternate between side-scrolling and three-dimensional perspectives and feature branching paths.

[2] Core weapons include a spread gun for smaller ships, a laser for larger enemies, and an auxiliary missile launcher that can lock onto targets.

To her surprise, the asteroid was rich in Xyanide, a mythical substance known for its abilities to make an exposed person's thoughts become reality.

Taking advantage of the situation, the witch uses her new powers to create her own alternate universe as a tool to aid her escape and spread her destructive influence.

[14] The design of the ports aimed to prioritise the "look and feel of the original Xbox title, using similar assets compressed to the resolution of portable devices.

[26] However, whilst Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the "trippy presentation" of the game, he noted it was "somewhat bewildering" and "prone to some unsightly drops in the frame rate.

"[2] Similarly, Erik Brudvig of IGN critiqued the game's graphics, stating "the levels look pretty at first, but quickly become nauseating and boring when the same backgrounds continuously scroll by awkwardly.