The player must control a given number of humans and use their abilities and tools to reach the level's goal, which usually involves finding a certain tool, killing a certain number of dinosaurs, or moving at least one human to the endpoint marked with a red tile. Each level is completed independently of the others and includes its own goal, tools and the number of people that can be present on it. The total number of men in the tribe and the total number of points are transferred from level to level.
The player can only control one man at a time, but can switch control to any other at any time. To complete a level, it is often necessary to use certain tools or abilities. For example, a spear (a tool that the player receives after completing the first level) can be thrown over gorges to other people, used to jump over ravines. A thrown spear kills dinosaurs or other enemies; it can also be used to keep them at a certain distance. Some levels contain NPCs, such as a pterodactyl, which can be mounted to fly to otherwise inaccessible platforms. It cannot be controlled, but it can be used. There are several types of enemies: from dinosaurs that eat unarmed men,
There can be up to 8 player-controlled minions per level, although some levels contain a lower limit (up to 3 minions). Although only a limited number of little men can be present at the level, there can be as many of them in the tribe as you like. If the little man dies, someone from the tribe replaces him, and so on until the little men remain in the tribe. During the course of the game, the player can save other little men and add them to the tribe. If there are fewer men left in the player's tribe than required for the next level, the game ends. However, the game can be started from any level by entering the appropriate password.