The gameplay is defined by a jarring but intentional shift in perspective and scale. Players rotate between three distinct factions: the technologically advanced Meccs, the agile elves, and the titular creature, Kabuto. This structure transforms the experience from a traditional third-person shooter into a strategic exercise in growth and environmental interaction, where the goals shift based on which character is currently active.
Central to the appeal is the evolution of Citizen Kabuto. Unlike the other characters, Kabuto's progression is tied to a consumption loop. By eating smaller creatures and objects, the player grows in size, which fundamentally alters how the world is navigated. What begins as a struggle for survival eventually evolves into a power fantasy of urban destruction, shifting the gameplay loop from stealth and evasion to total dominance.