The game offers two distinct perspectives: cockpit mode, where you control your plane directly, and third-person view, allowing for more flexibility in gameplay. The game also features day and night scenarios with new mission objectives, including air-ground strikes.
After Burner III includes three gameplay modes: Arcade, Timed, and "Hits", which challenges players to shoot down as many enemies as possible within specific waves. However, multiplayer support is not available in this version.