The game can best be described as a "simulation" of a career in the US government. Your goal is to progress from entry-level job (e.g. US Marshall or Immigration Clerk) up through the ranks within your department. There are four starting paths, each of which has five levels of promotion, and each level offers up to five jobs. This makes the game highly replayable, as there is a maximum of 4 x 4 x 5 = 100 career paths you can take.

Gameplay realistically simulates an agent's daily routine: every morning, you're at your desk, complete with an appointments book, phone, and an in-box. You're given a choice of places you can go, such as the cafeteria, and you will get scolded if you're late or miss an appointment. In every scenario, you're faced with dilemmas that involve government ethics rules, and you must choose what to do from multiple choices. The game instantly gives feedback on whether your choice is correct, and cites the relevant passages from the actual US Standards of Conduct code. At the end of every job, you get feedback on whether your performance was good, bad or just so-so. Unless you make many wrong choices, you will be promoted to the next level where the jobs – and the dilemmas – get more difficult.

There are hundreds of dilemmas you will face in the game, ranging from the obvious (e.g. people offering bribes or kickbacks), or complex (e.g. could you enter into a private competition using federal-issue equipment?), none of which are boring. Federal agents can actually use the game to fulfill their annual ethics training requirement – a fact which attests to the game's accuracy and usefulness as an education tool. Anyone who is interested in ethics, or career simulation in general, should find the game enjoyable and captivating (although the quoted legal passages are, by nature, quite dry). Highly recommended!