Splashdown puts the player in the role of one of nine "over the top" jetskiiers, and challenges the player to race on a plethora of courses.

Most courses take place in lakes and rivers, all modified to include jumps. Certain courses are man-made and built in a stadium, where the player can race one-on-one around a square or oval-shaped track. Tracks take place in different areas of the world, from Florida to Italy.

Each character has a different seadoo, that has it's own unique characteristics, such as handling, speed and acceleration. Each seadoo has been licensed by the SEA-DOO company, so each machine is accurate in its looks and ability.

Each rider can perform a number of different stunts, such as the Superman, the Can-Can, and the Lazyboy. There is one special stunt that is different for each racer.

Multiplayer options include a "trick attack" and the standard race.