If Garfield is defeated, he respawns on the nearest checkpoint reached. All levels also contain beneficial items and weapon ammunition to be collected for Garfield, among other secrets to be found.

Enemies consist of ghosts, piranhas, crabs, bulldogs and mummified mice, among others. Garfield is able to attack enemies up close or throw objects at them (close-range weapons and objects thrown change between each level). Each time the player defeats a boss, Garfield takes a commercial break where he rockets through the Television Wasteland, trying for an extra life or a continue. There are two types of bonus rounds, one of which resembles a Whac-A-Mole game. Later levels become more maze-like and exploratory, making the player take different routes to reach the end, where a boss must be fought to progress further. The levels, though linear in nature, are large and populated with obstacles, enemies and environmental hazards, inviting the player to traverse the stage by running, jumping, climbing, swinging, throwing objects or dodging enemies. Garfield: Caught in the Act is a side-scrolling platform game where players take control of the titular cat across levels of varying themes on the television in order to defeat an evil electronic being known as the Glitch and escape the TV.

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