The handheld version of Sega's popular taxicab series features a choice of four drivers from the arcade original (Axel, B.D. Joe, Gena, and Gus) and two cities to explore. The basic premise is the same as in past titles: pick up and drive as many fares to their destinations as possible within the time allotted. Each successful route earns players cash while adding a few extra seconds to the clock.
The visual presentation mirrors those found in previous versions, with a perspective set behind the cab as players weave past traffic and take various shortcuts en route to their drop-off point. An arrow positioned at the top of the screen helps guide players toward their destination while a clock located in the upper right corner gradually counts down the time remaining in the driver's shift. As in the original, the longer the player has to drive a passenger, the higher the fare.
Tips can also be earned by performing various tricks while speeding across the traffic-filled cities, with Catch a Ride supporting crazy drifts, jumps, and other techniques from previous games in the series. Nine mini-games are available to test driving prowess in a number of offbeat situations, such as popping a series of giant balloons, and five fare difficulty levels help determine the overall challenge required of players in meeting their quotas.