The Brainies is a puzzle game where you guide four different colored Brainies onto a spot that matches their color. You control a cross-hair, pressing fire to take or give control of the Brainy's motion. Each level has a time limit, and running out will cost you a life.
The challenge lies in controlling the direction of each Brainy once it starts walking. This direction cannot be changed, so the Brainy will continue until it hits a wall, obstacle, or another Brainy. Adding to the complexity are arrows that change the direction and items that can optionally be picked up.