Excitebike is a motorcycle game in which players race from left to right across five different tracks. Drivers must push up and down on the joystick to steer the bike in position to jump a variety of ramps and hills or avoid other bikers. Some enemy bikes run normally while others pursue from behind. The view is from a slightly elevated angle, giving the game a pseudo 3D look.

A turbo button lets players accelerate quickly, but if this feature is used too much the engine will overheat, rendering the bike temporarily unable to operate. Driving across cool zones lowers the temperature of the bike. Players should avoid running off the track and driving through mud. Small road obstacles can be avoided by popping "wheelies." If the bike has a wreck, the biker will run back to the motorcycle, eating up precious time. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide