Gameplay involves racing against time or competing in a tournament-style Championship mode, where players can choose from four difficulty levels. The game also features Stunt Mode, where players can perform various stunts to earn points. In addition to single-player modes, Kawasaki Jet Ski offers a two-player split-screen versus mode for competitive racing. Players can customize their jet-ski racers, tweaking parameters such as grip, handling, acceleration, top speed, and collision stability to suit their playstyle.