In the year 2140, intergalactic flight paths have been taken over by alien forces, effectively crippling the Federation's commerce and food supply. As per the Intergalactic Counsel's ruling, disputes of this type must be settled by duels to the death. As Barrett Jade, the Federation's greatest warrior, you must battle nine different aliens. Operating a land-based, artificially intelligent, dynamic composition A-7 Trinity Rote Cyborg, you are equipped with machine guns, missiles, laser guns, lob grenades, skimmers, grenades, energy rings, slomo clouds, lob mines, and homin' rockets. Between rounds you can buy extra ammunition from Dr. Thrag's Weapons Shop. You earn money by defeating the aliens and during qualifying bonus rounds, which are called Holographic Targeting Simulators.

The basic action in Death Duel is somewhat similar to that of most 16-bit, first-person shooters. You guide a gun sight around the play field, firing your assortment of weapons. The major differences between this game and most others of its type are the strategies involved and the fact that you battle one powerful enemy at a time, as opposed to legions of smaller, more vulnerable enemies. Certain weapons are ineffective on certain aliens, and you must go to great lengths to conserve your ammunition. Also, the weapons dealer sometimes runs certain types of ammunition on sale. You've got to decide whether he's trying to get you to waste your money, or if you are getting value for you dollar.

As a warning to parents, Death Duel has a lot of blood and gore.