Sharks and Minnows is an exploration-based survival horror game where players are trapped within a haunted swim center and must complete ten laps to escape. Players must scavenge the facility in order to keep their stamina as high as possible. Swimming causes stamina to drain and running out mid-lap will have deadly consequences. If the situation gets desperate enough, many players will have to venture into the dark corners of the haunted building in order to find secret stashes of supplies. Various hazards will be encountered while traversing the environment. Players will need to use their wits in order to overcome these obstacles because if they fail, they may end up trapped forever.