Takeshi no Chousenjou is a game based on the ideas and bearing of the name of Japanese comedian Takeshi Kitano.

The player takes control of a regular office worker who finds out that there is a treasure hidden somewhere on an island. The game world consists mostly of urban areas and is viewed from a side-scrolling perspective. The protagonist can jump and punch any character he encounters, even including the old man at the password screen (which results in a game over). The player character's health is measured in hearts. Hostile characters may attack him, but most of the people on the streets and indoor locations are harmless.

Besides exploring locations, the game includes other activities, such as obtaining a divorce from the protagonist's wife, completing a side-scrolling shooting sequence with a hang glider, and using a microphone built into the Famicom's second controller to perform a karaoke song.