Dirt 3 is a rally racing game. Most time is spent in races, set in off-road environments. The main difference to other racing events is that the player drives with a front-seat passenger who announces when to turn. The game features 98 courses, but some are just variations of the same. Also on board is the ability to turn back time after making a mistake.
In contrast to Dirt 2 , this installment has other playing modes than career mode available, such as a single race. However, career mode remains the heart of the game; here, the player tunes their car, participates in races, and earns experience points to unlock new cars. There are six different race modes to complete during the career, including regular races and "trailblazer" (no passenger available). Two new modes are also introduced: drift tournaments and Gymkhana, which are confined areas with many stunt opportunities - the goal is to perform as many as possible in a limited time. Each mode has special tricky bonus goals that reward more experience when fulfilled.