The player initially controls Buster Bunny in the effort to rescue Babs Bunny from her kidnapper, Montana Max. Before each world, the player can select an alternate character that they can switch into if they find a star ball. The three alternate characters are Dizzy Devil, Furrball, and Plucky Duck. Dizzy, Furrball, and Plucky have unique abilities that Buster lacks: Plucky can briefly fly, Dizzy can spin through walls and is invincible while in his spin mode, and Furrball can climb trees and other vertical surfaces, slowly sliding down them rather than plunging down.

There are six worlds in the game, with three levels each: The Hills, The Wetlands, The Trees, Junkyard, Wackyland (unlike the rest, this world only has one level), and Montana Max's Mansion. Aiding Buster is Hamton, who will give Buster an extra life if he collects enough carrots. The second level in each world concludes with an enclosed area where the player must avoid Elmyra and exit through the door; if the player is grabbed by Elmyra, they must start the world over. The third level in each world concludes with a boss battle.

Duck Vader makes a cameo appearance as a secret boss if the number of carrots collected in any level is a multiple of eleven. If the player can defeat him without losing one life in the process, they will gain three lives (assuming the lives don't exceed the life limit).