Skate 3 is a skateboarding extreme sports game set in an open world place and played from a third-person perspective.

Although the location is a more colorful and friendlier place than Skate 2's de-saturated, and grainy streets, the gameplay provides a similar feel to the first and second games.

Several notable skateboarding professionals appear throughout the game, such as Danny Way, Darren Navarette, Terry Kennedy, Eric Koston, Chris Cole, Pat Duffy, Rob Dyrdek and Jason Lee who voices the character Coach Frank.

"Easy Mode" allows the player to perform tricks easier and provides greater control of the character.

"Hardcore Mode" attempts a more realistic simulation of skateboarding and requires the player to perform tricks precisely.

[5][6] The game also features an introductory "Skate School",[7] where Coach Frank (Jason Lee) teaches players the basics of skateboarding.

In "Domination", teams compete to gain the most points on set spots in an area within a time limit.

After a failed attempt to "Jump The Shark", a Thrasher challenge at the stadium, their next goal in life is to be a skateboarding mogul by making a team composed of skaters like them.

When one million boards are sold, players are able to wear new styles of clothing for their skater and the plot ends there.

Characters such as Joey Brezinski, Dan Drehobl, Benny Fairfax, Josh Kalis, Lizard King, Andrew Reynolds, Chris Haslam, Terry Kennedy, Chris Cole, Jason Dill, and Rob Dyrdek are featured in the game.

The soundtrack contains 46 licensed tracks and was composed by John King of The Dust Brothers, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, and Del the Funky Homosapien.

[33] The Daily Telegraph gave the same console version eight out of ten, but noted its difficult mechanics for mastering the game.

[30] Wired similarly gave it eight stars out of ten, praising control scheme, realistic setting and wide range of multiplayer options.