The Spiderwick Chronicles is based on the film of the same name. In this version, the player takes control of the Grace siblings - Jared, Simon, and Mallory - each with their own strengths and abilities, as well as Thimbletack the Brownie, whose small size allows exploration of small passages in the Spiderwick mansion.
The gameplay consists of exploring the estate with the characters on a series of quests to find ordinary items such as hose nozzles, solving puzzles, fighting mythical creatures like trolls and goblins using unique weapons specific to each character - such as slingshots, baseball bats, and squirt guns filled with vinegar. The player can also acquire special abilities and replenish health by capturing fairies using a fairy net scattered throughout the stages.