The player explores scenes from a third-person perspective, examines objects, talks to characters, collects items, and types commands to solve puzzles. The story is divided into connected locations rather than combat stages, and progress depends on discovering clues and applying objects in the correct situations.

The narrative changes viewpoint during the adventure, giving Patti her own section and objectives. Sierra's scoring system rewards solving situations and advancing the story. Some scenes can cause failure or require careful timing, so saving regularly is useful.

Examine every new scene and talk to characters more than once; important clues are often hidden in optional dialogue. Keep a varied inventory and try objects on relevant scenery before abandoning a puzzle.

Save before entering unfamiliar locations or attempting risky actions. The game can include dead ends and sudden failures, so maintain several rotating saves rather than relying on one file.