There are various modes throughout the N games that the player(s) can play, each with their own goals and rules.
Solo/Single-player[]
Appears in: N, N+, and N++. The default mode, designed for one player.
The goal of this mode is to get the ninja to complete a level before a timer runs out. In the base game, The player must pass an episode, a series of five levels.
If the player chooses, there is additional goal of collecting gold to increase their episode score (final time in an episode, the more the better), and compete with other players on the leaderboard for a higher time.
In N and N++, it's possible for more than one player to play the single-player mode alongside the first player. Though, the levels for this mode were designed for a single player and may not flow well with multiple players.
Co-op[]
Introduced in N+. Co-operative mode requiring two players. Besides the main rules, players must work together to complete a level.
Levels in this mode usually involve one player opening a path (e.g. unlocking a switch) to allow the other to progress, or a player sacrificing themselves to allow the other player to pass an area (e.g. running into a mine blocking off a path). Only one player is needed to complete the level for both players.
Players may also collect gold and compete with other players on the leaderboard for a higher time.
Race[]
Introduced in N+. Competitive mode with up to four players. Players must race each other to reach the exit first.
Rules: N+[]
In N+, players share a single 'race timer', and must complete the level before it runs out. The player that reaches the exit door first wins. Otherwise, if the timer runs out before anyone reaches the exit, no winner will be decided and the game will switch to a new level. Retrying is enabled.
Rules: N++[]
In N++, alongside the goal of reaching the exit first, each player competes with their own timebar for the highest time. In the base game, this is decided at the end of a Race episode.
At the beginning of an episode, each player has a starting time of 90 seconds, which doesn't decrease until a player touches the exit door. Players can gain Bonus time by collecting gold, which will only be added to their starting time if they reach the exit; otherwise, they don't gain any time.
When a player reaches the exit, they launch a controllable rocket - which can be used to target other players, and 'Sudden death' is activated. In this stage, the time that each player collected in the level starts to drain, and retrying is disabled. Dying in this stage does not save your collected time in the level.
Once all players either die or reach the exit, each players' bonus time is added to their timebar as a whole, which becomes their starting time for the next level. At the end of the episode, the player with the highest time wins.
There is also another way to win: if a player reaches the maximum amount of time (which can be set before the game starts, max. 300 seconds) after a level is finished, that player automatically wins.
If players are struggling to pass a level for a period of time (can be set before the game starts), 'You Suck' mode is activated, which gradually removes enemies from the level. Once a player reaches the exit, the remaining players instantly die and don't gain any time for that level. 'You Suck' mode can also be activated in the pause menu or disabled entirely before the game starts.