Chernobyl 1986 begins with a disaster in the fourth reactor of a nuclear power plant. The player must try to extinguish the fire (including using aerial vehicles) and neutralize the consequences of the explosion. In the process, it is necessary to evacuate the Chernobyl NPP employees, pull them out from under the rubble, monitor the level of panic. It is also necessary to take measures to reduce the amount of radiation and reduce the rate of its spread. Separately, it should be noted that the first explosion can cause the second after a while, and then the task will become more complicated.

According to the developers, Chernobyl 1986 has many different types of missions, although judging by the trailer, they all boil down to interacting with the environment and choosing a specific team. The gameplay shown is a bit like Fallout Shelter, only without building separate base compartments.