The player can use the Globulator to control Yoshi's movements across the world, which is necessary to reunite Yoshi with Luigi. The player can view a map of the city that Luigi is in, as well as a map of the world that is known as the Globulator. At the beginning of the game, Luigi and dinosaur Yoshi are at Bowser's castle, and Luigi has access to the PORTALS, allowing him to teleport to cities where the Koopas are operating. The player controls Luigi throughout the game. Bowser captures Mario to prevent him from foiling the plan, and it is up to Mario's brother Luigi to save him. Bowser plans to sell the treasures to pay for enough hairdryers so he can melt the ice of Antarctica. Bowser plans to steal the Earth's treasures with the use of the Passcode-Operated Remote Transportation and Larceny System (PORTALS), which allows his Koopas to teleport anywhere in the world. In the game, Bowser, king of the Koopas, has relocated from the Mushroom Kingdom to the real world, where he has set up his headquarters in an Antarctic castle.
The computer version is a point-and-click adventure, while the NES and SNES have platform game elements. Mario Is Missing! is an educational game. Luigi is talking to a local woman in a city area.