Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums is an action-adventure game where Cole Gannon, a rookie detective, must track down Carmen Sandiego to stop her from unleashing unspeakable power by reassembling stolen tribal drums. The game follows Cole's journey as he explores nine different locales across the world, including New York and Thailand.
The game features various gameplay mechanics, including combat with enemy units who possess key codes, puzzle-solving, and stealth movement to avoid security measures. Players can collect items such as compasses and puzzle pieces, which aid in locating Carmen Sandiego's whereabouts and unlocking areas. Cole can also use his staff for close-quarters combat and a dart gun to access hard-to-reach switches.