Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a platform game where the protagonist, a resident of planet Aries and the king's brother, journeys to the planet Paperock. His objective is to locate his missing father, King Thor, following rumors of his survival.

Gameplay involves navigating side scrolling stages while evading enemy contact. Alex can punch grounded foes or kick those in the air. Defeated enemies and opened treasure chests provide coins. Several assistive items are available, such as a flying pedicopter with offensive capability, a pogo stick for vertical mobility, and a cloak that grants temporary invulnerability. These tools are stored in an inventory after use, but the currently equipped one is lost upon death, making the game challenging.

A defining mechanic is the integration of Janken, the rock paper scissors mini game. Unlike standard confrontations, boss encounters are resolved entirely through this game of chance. Furthermore, purchasing items from shops requires an additional Janken match after payment; losing this match results in the player's death, adding a challenging risk to acquiring upgrades.