Zuma: Golden Scarab is a bubble shooter. The player explores 80 levels on a path that winds through four different fantasy world environments by popping colorful patterned bubble marbles that roll along dirt tracks. Their goals are to pop all marbles and earn points and three stars per level. They collect and earn green gems to buy boosters as well.
The title of the game refers to a cannon shooter shaped like a golden scarab. A marble train rolls toward a level-ending portal inside of a hole. The player shoots matching projectiles to create groups of three or more identical marbles. After a group pops, the sections of the train stay apart or roll together.
Zuma: Golden Scarab features a wide range of obstacles. The player often destroys a train, and then another one appears from the side of the screen. They need to break ice-encased marbles. They must sometimes deal with elements that block a shot, such as a sharp curb where two sections of the train are too close or a bridge that briefly hides a section.
That said, the game provides the player with many ways to win. The scarab contains two projectiles at a time. The player can swap the pieces to optimize efficiency and time. They can shoot unwanted projectiles away from a train without penalty. They can earn free boosters by shooting items trapped in clear floating bubbles.
The player can drop fireballs on different bubbles in a section with one move. They can use a bomb to blast a section and replace the projectiles with potions that match any bubbles. A paintbrush paints bubbles to match the color of the second projectile. Lastly, an hourglass reverses the train's progress on a track.
