Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a stealth action adventure game with first and third person views. The player-controlled Snake must sneak through enemy territory unnoticed. The hero has an impressive arsenal of weapons at his disposal (from a pistol to a grenade launcher), but the main emphasis in the game is on stealth and avoiding collisions with the enemy. During the mission, Snake finds many useful items, including motion sensors and a “branded” cardboard box that serves as Snake’s hiding place.
The player spends approximately two-thirds of the game's time in the rainforest, where skillful use of the surrounding vegetation (for example, the player can climb a tree or hide from an enemy soldier in thick grass) is the key to successfully avoiding collisions with enemies. Also, special emphasis is placed on the use of camouflage.