Diddy Kong Racing is a third-person racing game. Players can choose from 8 characters who have access to 3 different means of transportation: a car, a hovercraft and an airplane. The car is universal, but on water and sand it is the slowest of vehicles. The hovercraft is designed for both sand and water, but lacks both acceleration and maneuverability. The aircraft has access to air zones; it is good at acceleration and maneuvering, but is the slowest of the three types.