Tomarc the Barbarian is an action game where Senta is held captive in a magical cage, and Tomarc must rescue her. Players control both Tomarc and Senta simultaneously. Tomarc searches for his magic sword in a series of caves before locating Senta to set her free. Players must avoid deadly rats and other dangers while running and jumping through the caves.
Meanwhile, Senta defends herself from giant bats and other creatures while trapped in the cage. Though she cannot move, she can fire magic at enemies to destroy them. Players can switch screens between the two characters to select whom to control. Paying attention to the sound effects helps determine when the other character is in trouble, signaling that it’s time to switch screens.