The player controls two characters, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers, as they progress through five levels, solving mysteries for Mystery Inc. The player can switch between Scooby and Shaggy to utilize their unique abilities, such as Scooby being able to crawl under narrow spaces. Some levels only allow for one playable character. Players find clues within the levels, take the clues to Velma Dinkley, and are then able to defeat monsters by using the Tome of Doom. The book has no effect on human enemies or alligators, which the characters can only avoid. The Tome of Doom can be charged up using magical wisps, which the player can collect along their way when the tome is low on magic. Floating green skulls also provide an endless supply of wisps. The tome also requires the right page in order to capture certain monsters. In some areas, monsters must be defeated in order to remove the force fields blocking the way out. The player characters have a 'cool meter', which when empty, causes the player to lose control of the character. The player can refill this meter by consuming Scooby Snacks or other foods found in the level. Certain food items are counted as collectibles and unlock bonuses if the player finds all of them within a particular level.