Much like the popular Micro Machines, Mini Desktop Racing is displayed with a top-down view. Players race in a variety of mini cars around a variety of desktop areas. The game offers reasonably interactive courses by allowing players to "turn on fans" and "spill drinks" in attempts to hinder opponents. Every level has a variety of different things that can be interacted with. The game can be played in single-player mode, in which you can race against one or more computer-controlled opponents or in multiplayer where you can race against one other friend.
The Wii version of the game is controlled with the Wii Remote pointed forward, which the player holds in one hand and twists left or right to steer,[1] similar to drag races in the Wii version of Need for Speed: Pro Street, as well as the one-handed control scheme for the Wii version of Need for Speed: Nitro.