The game takes on a traditional 3D platformer style much like a classic Rareware game. Essentially, where Yooka-Laylee was a modern spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, this Deadly Six game would be a modern spiritual successor to Donkey Kong 64 - BUT would improve on the aspects DK64 gets reamed over.
At any time, you can swap between the six different D6 members to traverse the expansive levels. Every D6 member has some standard capabilities. They can run and jump, of course, and also break into a sprint to get around faster (though not Sonic levels of fast...usually), and allow them to jump further too. They also have a selection of melee attacks where they use their horns, claws and tails. Most interestingly though, they share the ability to use their electromagnetic field manipulation to form a shield to deflect or move projectiles fired at them by enemies. They can't use this constantly obviously - even a Zeti's gotta take a breather occasionally, so you'll need to keep their electromagnetic abilities charged by pulling a Spyro and smacking up small critters to absorb their nutrients.
Additionally, each member of the Deadly Six has unique powers for fighting and traversing the levels. While playing as them, you'll also find unique food items to replenish their health if need be.
- Zavok can send out powerful heated energy balls. While slow, they are mighty and have limited homing capabilities. He can also heat up his scales for a while and temporarily make it so when he is attacked, enemies will take damage too. This will also be useful for enabling heat-powered mechanisms for progressing through the levels. While playing as him, you'll find seared steak as health replenishment.
- Zazz, being the group speedster, can break out into a "Super Sprint" after sprinting for long enough. In this state, Zazz can electrify his body, becoming impervious to melee attacks and being able to damage foes simply by running into them. He can also smash through certain barriers in this state. While playing as him, you'll find giant hot chili peppers as health replenishment.
- Zomom is surprisingly athletic and is a good climber - he can climb up most, if not all, different walls and surfaces. He can even throw his sandwich at enemies, and it'll come back to him like a boomerang! He'll also be able to create giant shockwaves by performing body slams. He can knock out foes around him and even break through certain floors. While playing as him, you'll find turkey drumsticks as health replenishment.
- Master Zik is accompanied by his trusty stick. It has LOTS of uses. He can use it as a powerful weapon and also to guard himself from melee attacks (essentially Master Zik is who you play as if you're a hack and slash fan). He can also throw it into a wall and use it as a pole to perch on or swing around to traverse the world around him. While playing as him, you'll find various fruits as health replenishment.
- The ever-charming Zeena is able to use her electromagnetic powers to create tractor beams to lift objects. She can use these as a mace to swing around at foes, or to move them around for puzzles. She's also highly athletic. Of the Six she's the best of traversing icy surfaces, she can spin her tail around like a helicopter to help her jump around and slow her descent, and she's skilled at parkour, being able to jump between and run along walls. While playing as her, you'll find plates of yummy spaghetti as health replenishment.
- The enigmatic Zor can summon a temporary shadow double to fight alongside him. These shadow doubles will also be able to sense where secrets are in the level. Additionally he can send shadowy-construct-bat-things to attack foes from a distance. He's also capable of gliding for long distances, making him by far your best option for jumping over particularly long gaps. While playing as him, you'll find delicious pineapple pizza as health replenishment!
Along the Zeti's many travels, they'll meet lots of aliens who will provide them help along the way, either by giving them advice or offering special goodies that can help you out in return for a few Rings you've collected. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to fight an invading alien force causing trouble in the galaxy - and they're targeting the Lost Hex next! Progress the game by collecting Red Rings to help the Deadly Six's friends expand their armory and prepare to launch a counter-attack against the invaders. Additionally, seek out the special Blue Rings to fight each level's boss, and search for the special Red, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green and White Flickies to help each individual Zeti become more powerful!
The worlds the Zeti travel through are set in the solar system the Sonic games take place in. Along with the Lost Hex itself, which acts as your hub level, levels will include Planet Wisp and many other planets - a tropical world, a prehistoric world, an ancient temple world, a spooky horror world and more. There are also side missions to accomplish such as races with NPC aliens, timed collection missions and even segments where the gang hops on one of Zavok's mechanical dragons and fly through space to fight alien fleets.
And for an extra blast of fun, there's also options for multiplayer! Play with up to three other people to traverse the worlds together, or compete against each other in minigames.