The object of 3-D Docking Mission is to maneuver a spacecraft through an asteroid field and safely dock with its mothership. The ship begins each round with a limited supply of fuel (40 points) which is consumed as the player uses thrusters to pilot the craft. The game ends as a loss if the player's ship runs out of fuel, collides with an asteroid or runs too quickly into the mothership. If the ship reaches the mothership and successfully enters the docking port, the player wins the round and a new one begins with more densely grouped asteroids.