Schmeiser Robo plays much like other 2D versus fighting games of its era, with characters battling in best-two-out-of-three matches against the CPU or another player. It uses an 8-way joystick and three buttons (punch, kick, and guard), introducing one of the earliest dedicated guard buttons in the genre.

Unlike typical fighting games, the guard button allows movement even when pressed repeatedly, though it does not block attacks. It also supports advanced defensive and offensive options including short hops, air-guarding, parrying (early form of guard-canceling), counter-attacking, and rush-attacks