"Death to Spies" takes place from a third-person perspective. The player controls Semion Strogov, a captain in SMERSH, a Soviet counterintelligence agency. Strogov is able to run, jump, crouch, crawl, climb over obstacles, and drive vehicles. Taking place in World War II, the player is required to complete various tasks in enemy territory, such as killing targets and stealing documents. Emphasis is placed on stealth, as the player is greatly outnumbered by enemy personnel in every mission, and can fail an assignment if the alarm is raised.