

The game's world is broken up into several regions, with each region having its own unique backstory and landscape. The landscape of the game is made up of canyons, caves, deserts and abandoned wastelands. Players can unlock new skills and upgrades for Max as he progresses through the game and earns experience points. Max himself, as well as his armor and weapons are available for customization in the game. The sound produced by the engine changes when players change, add, or remove certain pieces from the Magnum Opus. For example, upgrading the engine will allow Max to drive faster, but it will make handling more difficult. However, upgrading one aspect of the car will negatively affect other aspects. Max's garage can be used to change and modify the car's engine, chassis, wheels, body work, paint job, and the "shell" of the automobile. The player has access to the garage screen throughout the game, allowing them to customize the Magnum Opus for any occasion.

Enemies sometimes will hop on top of the Magnum Opus in an attempt to make it explode, but the player can avoid that by adding dangerous hazards, such as spikes, around the car. In order to encourage exploration, the Magnum Opus can be upgraded by using scavenged materials found in the desert, hijacking enemies' cars or collecting their car parts. Chumbucket will repair the car once the player exits. The game mostly uses a third-person perspective but allows players to switch to first-person view when the player is engaging in combat with enemies while driving the Magnum Opus. When simultaneously driving and aiming, the game enters slow-motion and allows the player to toggle between targets. Nitro boosts are featured for acceleration. Max's Magnum Opus can be combined with a V8 engine and a powerful ramming ability to destroy enemies' vehicles and weaponry. The harpoon can be used in-vehicle with Chumbucket, Max's mechanic, riding along. Weapons, such as flamethrowers, a mounted cannon and a grappling hook, can be added to the Magnum Opus. According to the publisher of the game, up to 60% of the game's campaign requires the player to drive. Mad Max is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game, with a heavy emphasis on vehicular combat, in which the player takes on the role of eponymous character Mad Max ( Bren Foster).
