Wario was taking a long-deserved rest in the Awazon Jungle after flying around in his plane, Bulldog. While dozing near a waterfall, he noticed several masked creatures carrying treasure into a cave. Keen to make the treasure his own, Wario followed them into the cave, but triggered a trap, causing him to tumble into a deep labyrinth filled with creatures and treasure.
Your aim is to make it through each world, collecting the treasure and finding the exit. At the end of each world is a boss character who must be defeated in order to continue to the next.
Like in the first Wario Land game, you collect hats as Power-Ups. Bull Hats make you strong and heavy, Eagle Hats let you fly, and Water Dragon Hats let you breathe flames. Collect all three hats in a single stage and you get the King Dragon Hat, combining all of the powers.
In many stages you will find special blocks that allow you to switch between the foreground and background, allowing you to bypass obstacles or find secret areas.