
Forza Motorsport 3 is a single-player and multiplayer racing simulation game. It places players in the role of a professional driver competing across a structured career while offering an extensive roster of cars and tracks to master. The career unfolds through a calendar-based system of events, where players progress by winning races, earning credits, and unlocking higher-tier competitions.
The game features more than 400 licensed vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi, McLaren, and Pagani. Cars are modeled with a higher polygon count than in earlier entries, aiming for greater detail and authenticity. Races take place on over 100 real-world and fictional circuits, such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Silverstone, Suzuka, Road Atlanta, and Laguna Seca, alongside newly designed fantasy tracks. Events vary in structure, ranging from standard circuit races to drag runs, drifting challenges, and endurance competitions.
Gameplay emphasizes accessibility as well as depth. A new rewind function allows players to roll back mistakes mid-race, while adjustable driving assists accommodate a range of skill levels. Players earn credits and experience points by completing races, which can then be used to unlock cars, upgrades, and tuning options. Vehicle customization includes both performance modifications and cosmetic adjustments, with a livery editor supporting detailed paint jobs, decals, and layered designs.
Multiplayer expands the experience beyond the single-player calendar. Online play supports custom race types based on preset modes such as single race, time trial, drift, point-to-point, elimination, and team-based tag and cat-and-mouse events. Up to eight drivers can race together, and players can design and share custom rule sets, car restrictions, and performance limitations to shape the competition. Local split-screen play is also available.
The game integrates community features alongside competitive racing. Players can share custom cars, paint schemes, and tuning setups online through an in-game storefront. Leaderboards track performance globally, and downloadable ghost replays allow players to compete against recorded runs from other drivers.