Video Vortex is a competitive deck-building game for 2-4 players set on a radioactive future Earth inhabited by video-obsessed mutants. Each genre-worshipping character must strategically use their individual mutant powers as they battle opponents and navigate game effects in an attempt to seize control of the wasteland.

During their respective turns, players will expend energy playing special cards, strengthening their deck with rental equipment from the local video store, and removing chosen cards from play to weaken enemies. Runtime, the measure of mutant health, is limited and unique to each character. By pushing an opponent's runtime past their limit through Lo-Fi and Hi-Fi attacks, mutants collect "Be Kind" tokens as trophies representative of their conquest. Once three distinctive trophies have been collected, victory is declared by the reigning champion.