Double Dragon is a linear action game, broken up into four "missions." Each mission must be completed in the order that they are presented. To complete each mission, you must successfully defeat all of the enemy opponents that fight you, as well as a boss who you encounter at the end of the mission. As you proceed through each mission, there are points where the stage will not scroll forward until all of the enemies present are defeated. If you advance to one of these stopping locations, you will be prevented from moving on until you see a thumbs-up, which appears when every enemy is knocked out.
Throughout the game, there is a timer. If you do not advance to a new mission before the timer runs out, you will lose one life. When you lose a life, the timer is restored when you return to the game (whether through an additional life, or by continuing.) When a mission is complete, the timer is also restored, along with your health.
At the start of the game, you are presented with a scene where Marion is attacked and abducted by Willy's gang members. Then the game begins after you appear from behind a garage door.
| Mission | Environment | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| Mission 1 | The street in front of Billy and Jimmy's home. | Jick |
| Mission 2 | An abandoned factory in the outskirts of town. | Jeff |
| Mission 3 | The woods leading up to the front entrance of the enemy base. | Green Jick |
| Mission 4 | The base of the Black Warriors and Willy's hideout. | Willy |