There is a row of three squares which move side to side on the screen, at the first row. When the player pushes the start/stop button, the row of squares will stop. Then, another row of three moving squares appears above the previous row, moving faster than the one before it. If the squares do not align directly above the previous set, any overhanging squares will be removed. If the player misses completely, the game is over. The number of available squares is automatically reduced to two, then one, during the game. The goal is to consistently get the squares directly above the previous set, "stacking" them to the minor prize and ultimately major prize levels. According to the merchandise manual, a major prize is worth about 100 times the cost per play.

A typical stacker game is 78" high by 27". A newly released version of the game, called Stacker Giant, is about twice the size. Stacker games come in two different color schemes, black and blue, or red and blue. Each of the different schemes are attractively painted to draw in customers. Stacker games have large windows covering the top half of the machine on three sides. The large windows are to allow passerby's to be able to view the prizes, which may in turn lead them to play the game. Such techniques use prizes such as iPods and other hot products that are either difficult for children to obtain due to cost, or are appealing to kids because of looks. The four "Prize rods" on a stacker game are spread far apart and lit from the ceiling to add emphasis, while the minor prizes are tucked away in the darkness to make them less appealing so the player will want to attempt the major prize and most likely fail.