One day, Dunk, the magic magician of Bubble World, releases a spell that transports eight characters from their home worlds to Bubble World. Now it is the player's turn to bring them back home!
In Bust-A-Move 3, you must try to remove all the bubbles in each stage by connecting three or more of the same color.
Five playing modes are available:
- Arcade mode.
- Challenge mode: in this mode the player's performance is evaluated and the game adapts to it.
- Win Contest mode: challenge all eight characters.
- Collection mode: a collection of levels created by Bust-A-Move players. Each round carries the designer's name.
- Edit mode: players can create and play their own puzzles.
The Nintendo 64 version also includes two- and four-player modes.