Taking place just before the events of the blockbuster movie series, Terminator: Dawn of Fate finds players on the side of the resistance movement in their struggle against the tyranny of Skynet. Three characters are playable during the game, including Kyle Reese, as he embarks on a quest to save humanity by going back in time to protect Sarah Connor's unborn child.

The 12 levels of third-person shooting action take place across such areas as war-torn battlefields, machine factories, and research labs. Members of the resistance will also fight alongside the main character at different points, mimicking the feel of an actual battle between two opposing groups. John Connor must also be protected in certain situations.

An assortment of 20 weapons are available to combat the deadly Terminators and Hunter-Killer robots sent by Skynet, including shock batons, rocket launchers, and various explosive devices.