[2] The driver interface and controls in OutRun 3-D are largely the same as those of its predecessor, with a two-speed manual gearbox and a top speed of 293 km/h.

Starting from the same tropical landscape (named Coconut Beach[3]), on each trip the player is likewise presented sequentially with four junctions - each with a choice of two turns - with the goal of ending at one of five destinations before the timer runs out.

Also unlike the original title, OutRun 3-D allows the player to choose between three difficulty settings - Beginner, Average and Expert - which changes the weather as well as the road layout of each leg of the journey.

Graphically the game resembles its predecessor and, like the original, features a red Ferrari Testarossa Spider, but most of the sprites were re-drawn and a variety of new visual elements were included, such as a long tunnel, roadside shorelines and certain weather effects, as well as an exhaust backfire animation on the player's vehicle.

OutRun 3-D has four selectable tracks, including a remixed version of "Magical Sound Shower" from the original Out Run, as well as "Midnight Highway", "Colour Ocean" and "Shining Wind", written by Chikako Kamatani.