Dirt 3 is a rally racing game where most of the time is spent in races set in off-road environments. The main difference to other racing events is that the player is accompanied by a front-seat passenger who announces when to turn. The game features 98 courses, but some are just variations of the same.
The gameplay revolves around racing and completing career modes, which include regular races, trailblazer (no passenger), drift tournaments, Gymkhana, and other special modes with bonus goals. Completing these modes rewards experience points, used to unlock new cars. The game also allows for a single race mode and has introduced two new game types: drift tournaments and Gymkhana, which offer stunt opportunities in confined areas.