Rainbow 6 is a video game based on Tom Clancy's Book Rainbow Six. The game is a tactical shooter, which focused more on stealth and tactics than on sheer firepower. Terrorists (or Tangos) can be dispatched with 1 or 2 shots, as can the player, or any of his/her teammates.

Before each mission is a planning stage, where the player is given a briefing. and then chooses the operatives to be involved in the mission, their weapons, equipment and uniform. Then, the player gives orders that each team will follow during the mission.

In the mission itself, the player takes control of one team leader, and can see their plan of action on their Head-up display. The teams not under player control follow the orders given to them in the planning stage. The player can take control of any living team leader.

The game forms a campaign, with the plot being advanced in mission briefing, and any casaulties are permenant, so they can't be used in future missions.