Berserk or Die places the player in the position of the sole survivor on a contested battlefield. The protagonist, surrounded, faces an endless stream of enemies advancing from the left and right sides of a two-dimensional space. With no forward movement possible, the only way to move around the area is to lunge. The combat system tracks the number of simultaneous key presses, converting more into a strike with a wide area of ​​effect. A series of consecutive attacks builds up the power for a single sweeping lunge, while a separate special meter fills up, opening the door to an even larger arena clear. Gameplay in Berserk or Die revolves around the cycle of day and night, with each day survived representing a wave of enemies repelled. During a nighttime respite from battle, a lone merchant appears, ready to offer his wares.