The gameplay of "Mario Hoops 3-on-3" is centered on basketball games, structured into tournaments that the player must win to progress. The tournament ladder is made with graphics based on the original "Super Mario Bros.". Each tournament consists of three games with two halves of two and a half minutes each. The one exception is an extra game with the "Final Fantasy" team at the end of the final tournament. The player can win a tournament by winning the three games on its ladder. Upon winning, the player is awarded either a gold cup, a silver cup, or a bronze cup. These cups correspond with winning by more than 200 points cumulatively across the three matches, 100 points, or simply winning all three games.