Minigolf Archipelago is a skill game that focuses on hobby and sport mini-golf play. The term "archipelago" refers to a grouping of islands. Each enclosed, gradient-green checkboard course floats on a blue background. The game displays one or more of these islands per level. The player's goal is to pot their balls into the holes marked with white or red flags. They must also attempt to stay away from holes marked with black flags that represent areas where thieves attempt to steal balls.
The player uses a white onscreen arrow and their mouse, trackpad or touchscreen to direct a ball. They can make straight, uninterrupted shots and bank shots off the side walls. The game also supplies useful physical obstacles, such as triangles, circles and other geometric shapes, that the player can use to direct a ball.
Minigolf Archipelago provides tools as well. When the player is on a multi-flag course that features white and red flags, they can use the white flag hole as a checkpoint. When the ball reappears to allow them to make the next shot, it appears at the spot of the previous white flag rather than the start position. Additionally, some courses feature bluish-purple teleportation holes that allow the player to pot a ball in a hole with a red flag on one island by shooting the ball from a completely different island.
If the player watches advertisements, they can earn fireballs or skip a level or black flag hole.