Based on the 1995 movie Cover Me, Blue Heat is a mature-themed, photo-realistic adventure game. The player assumes the role of Holly Jacobson, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who goes under cover to catch a serial killer preying on the sexy cover girls of LA Erotica Magazine. Several have already been murdered and many others are in danger.

The game takes players in the steamy world of erotic dancers, Mafia thugs, fashion photographers, drug dealers, religious zealots and seductive models. As Holly, players will talk with other characters, determine who has an alibi for the previous murders, gather evidence to send to the lab and read information inside her PDA. Eventually enough information will be discovered to pin-point the identity of the killer. Ultimately the player will participate in a "sting" to expose and catch the murderer.

Gameplay is point-and-click in first person, with movie-like quality video cutscenes and orchestrated music. Navigation to different locations is handled with an area map. Within the gameplay screen, move around using an arrow cursor which changes shape on interactive spots.

Blue Heat has several different endings depending upon which conversation paths have been chosen as well as the evidence submitted for lab analysis.