Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is set in London, where the duo must travel to various locations, interrogate suspects, gather clues, check out newspapers, and present evidence to a judge. The gameplay process involves a mix of exploration and puzzle-solving, as players must piece together the circumstances of each case.
The game's focus on realistic detective work and its emphasis on presenting evidence to a judge sets it apart from typical adventure games. With features like live-action video sequences and CD-ROM technology, this game was notable for being one of the earliest "multimedia" titles in 1992.