The game uses a first-person perspective inside illustrated adventure screens. Players type commands such as LOOK, TAKE, TALK, or USE, then press Enter to interact with characters, examine objects, collect items, and solve puzzles across Lost Wages.

Progression is largely non-linear, but several locations, objects, and encounters must be handled in the correct way. Larry can die through careless choices, and the game may award points for successful discoveries. Exploration, experimentation, and recognizing the intended joke are more important than reflexes.

Examine every new location and try LOOK before interacting with anything. Keep useful objects in the inventory, but expect some puzzles to require combining items or using them in a particular place.

Save often, especially before entering unfamiliar locations or attempting a risky interaction. If a command fails, try synonyms and inspect the scene again; Sierra's parser often expects a specific verb or noun.