In this frustrating, much reviled 1989 Nintendo game, you can play as one of six camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake, who all have varying character attributes (speed, jumping, rowing, etc). The object of the game is to survive three days and three nights while attempting to find and kill Jason. Along the way, you have six camp counselors from Jason before you even get to fight him. The counselors start with an arcing rock attack. The goal is to find and defeat Jason three times. Along the paths, players will find cabins, a lake, caves and wooded areas with all but the cabins having enemies such as zombies, crows, and wolves attacking the player. Players may upgrade their weapon upon finding a new one. A timed alarm appears at certain intervals, requiring players to find Jason before he kills one or more children or another counselor. Navigating the map, players must find their way to Jason's location or switch to the counselor being attacked and defeat him. If they do not make it there in time, Jason will kill the counselors or some of the children.

Upon nearing Jason's location, Jason may appear on the path or in the lake and attack the player. When inside a cabin, Jason will directly attack the player just like another Nintendo classic, 'Mike Tyson's Punch-Out'. Players may light the fireplaces inside of larger cabins. Upon lighting all fireplaces, a flashlight and torch weapon become available. Notes are found in some larger cabins leading you to other notes in other locations, eventually leading you to new items. Players may also battle Jason's mother, who is secretly hidden in a locked room in the cave. She is represented as a Medusa-like floating head that swoops down to attack the player. Navigating in the woods or cave can be confusing as they are set up to purposely disorient the player, thus making them 'lost in the woods'. Several locked rooms and cabins are hidden throughout the campground, and if all the counselors or children die, the game is over.

DESTROY JASON...IF YOU CAN!