Snow Rider 3D is an endless racing game that features a winter sledding theme. Although all vehicles in the game are referred to as sleighs, the player races a wide variety of sleds and sleighs from a first-person perspective through a canyon filled with obstacles under a starry sky. Their goal is to make it as far as possible while earning points and gifts that serve as in-game currency.
The player starts with a rainbow slat sled with a cast iron frame and runners that the game refers to as an old toboggan. During each race, the player can collect presents stuck in the snow by directing their sled or sleigh across the items. After the player collects enough presents, they can use the currency to upgrade to a metal sled, an evil sled, a blue plastic sled, a red and green Santa sleigh decorated with snowflakes, an round orange saucer, a dogsled, a streamlined modern sleigh, and many other options.
Snow Rider 3D challenges the player with two main obstacles. The controls are extremely sensitive. The player must use a gentle touch when steering and jumping their vehicle. Additionally, the canyon's obstacles include giant snowmen, rolling snowballs, stumps, trees, rocks, boulders and breaks in the terrain. If the player's vehicle hits any of these or other objects, it immediately falls apart. The player must then start over to beat their best score and increase their gift balance.
