Rainbow Six 3 is a console-based entry in the long-running series designed for action-packed first-person gameplay. It does away with heavy strategy elements and offers a more focused experience compared to its PC counterpart. The game features 14 single-player levels, where the player controls Domingo 'Ding' Chavez, leading a team of three Rainbow operatives. Goals in each mission include taking out terrorists, defusing bombs, and protecting hostages. Rainbow Six 3 offers various gameplay mechanics, including context-sensitive menu options to give orders to squad mates, such as holding position or advancing. The game also features over two dozen realistic firearms, grenades, charges, and mines, with thermal and night vision always available. However, the focus on action means no running or jumping, and more than a few hits are fatal.
Aside from single-player campaign, the game includes custom mission mode, allowing players to hunt terrorists on unlocked maps from the campaign. Multiplayer modes include cooperative campaign, custom mission mode, Sharpshooter mode, Survival mode, Team Survival mode, and competitive deathmatch options.
Multiplayer features vary between platforms, with limitations such as six-player online multiplayer on PS2 and no competitive modes on GameCube.