At least one medal must be inserted to start a game. A maximum of five can be inserted per game, with each medal adding an additional Pokémon the player can use.
The default Pokémon is Pikachu, with potential additions including Phanpy, Munchlax, Kecleon, Squirtle, Plusle, and Minun. Each Pokémon move at varying speeds and some have their own abilities. Pikachu will always occupy the middle lane, with the second and third Pokémon occupying the lanes either side, and the fourth and fifth Pokémon occupying the top and bottom lanes, if brought into play.
The player can move their Pokémon forward by tapping the center button: faster taps will move the Pokémon faster. Players much reach the goal without being seen by Meowth. Any Pokémon still moving when Meowth looks around will be frozen from the game. If all Pokémon are caught or if the 30-second time limit has elapsed, the game is over.
Different types of fruit with varying values will be at the goal line. Fruit with higher values will often be on the extremes of the goal, therefore a player may risk more medals to bring more Pokémon into play in order to win more medals. If a Pokémon reaches the goal, the player will earn a number of medals equivalent to the number shown by the fruit. Individual fruit values range from two to twelve.
If a player manages to reach the goal with at least one Pokémon, Wobbuffet may walk along the bottom of the screen and fall over, dropping a Poké Ball. The type of Poké Ball will depend on how many times Wobbuffet has appeared and fallen over, as indicated by the Poké Balls present in the bottom right corner of the screen. Wobbuffet will drop a regular Poké Ball first time, followed by an Ultra Ball, and finally by a Master Ball in each subsequent appearance. Revealing the Master Ball will start the Bonus Game.
The Bonus Game features Pikachu in a straight race against two opponents: Spoink and Spinda. Instead of pressing the button to advance, the player must insert medals. The more medals inserted, the faster Pikachu will run. The player will receive a number of medals based on the position Pikachu finished in, with a maximum of fifteen medals available for first place.
