Players may tilt their smartphone to direct The Doodler left and right, and the figure will automatically hop from platform to platform. Along the journey, you may use power-ups such as springs, jetpacks, and trampolines to accelerate your ascent. However, you must dodge adversaries, black holes, and damaged platforms, all of which might send you plunging down. The game's simplicity makes it entertaining, but rising complexity heightens the challenge.

Doodle Jump is an infinite game, therefore there is no predetermined finish line or ultimate boss. The aim is to surpass your own or others' high scores, making it an excellent choice for fast, on-the-go amusement. In each round, the game produces fresh platform configurations and obstacles at random, guaranteeing that no two games are exactly the same.

The game's graphics are unusual, with a hand-drawn, sketch-like aesthetic. Various themes have been introduced throughout time, such as space, jungle, and underwater environments, to keep the game new and visually appealing. These thematic updates provide new challenges and foes while preserving the basic gameplay that has made Doodle Jump a fan favorite.