

Most of the in-game missions are done during the day and must be done by the time the timer runs out, but some of them are nighttime missions that need to be completed by morning (or before the timer runs out). Missions can be started by simply talking to the located characters. A lot of missions once completed become minigames which the player can play again.

Missions fit the storyline of the game and the movie and vary a lot. Characters die and are introduced as the game progresses as in the movie.

Within the game there is a storyline which fits the movie to some extent but still goes along its own path. Note that the number of missions available depends on the chapter being played. However, the tides suddenly turn as the player, the other animals, and Otis take one final stand against the final boss. As players reach the end of the game, specifically Chapter 8, things only get worse as the leader of the Barnyard, Otis, runs off and players are put in charge. As players reach the mid-part of the game, however, they lose the same playable character, Ben, that is lost in the movie. There are many references to the Barnyard as well, including dialogue from the characters and certain in-game objects. As players continue through the chapters, the game increases in variety. Players may find these characters by looking for, and following the quickest path to, the '!' on the map. Players travel around the Barnyard and either explore the area(s) the game has to offer or follow the story and complete the missions by going to the barn animal that sent a text to players' phones. As players progress through the chapters in the game, they meet new characters, unlock new areas, get more in-game currency, etc.

An extra farm animal maybe be unlocked from having Nickelodeon games at the time that were included in the 'Crossover' event. Players play through a sequence of nine chapters as farm animals of their choosing. The game has several types of gameplay, from missions to a mini-game type system.
