Uphill Rush 8 is a waterpark game that features racing on waterslides and across swimming pools through 20 levels on an island path through jungles, mountains, beach pools, an amusement park, skyscrapers, more mountains, and then past a lighthouse to a nearby cruise ship.
The player's primary goal is to finish each race as fast as possible with the highest score possible based on their race time, coins they collect floating in the air, and any stunts, such as backward and forward flips, while dealing with long inclines and loop-de-loop ramps. The player receives a boost button marked with a lightning bolt to help them speed up and knock other people and objects like beach balls out of the way.
The player can choose an avatar and watercraft. Their watercraft options range from swim rings designed to look like donuts, a tire and flags to long inflatables shaped like a banana, a rocket ship and a hotdog, jet skis and live dolphins.
Uphill Rush 8 rewards the player with coins at the end of each level. If the player is willing to watch an advertisement, they can double their coins. They can also acquire free ones by watching an ad. They use the money to enhance the acceleration, balance, boost and speed of their watercraft. They can also upgrade the watercraft type and exterior appearance of their avatar.
