Bravo Air Race is strictly a racing game, with no available weapons for players or AI opponents to destroy each other with.[5] Aircraft, despite obvious differences in real life, are equally balanced.
There are four courses, one of which is selected by the player after selecting their aircraft. Most of the maps feature racing through narrow ravines and canyons, diving under bridges and rock structures accompanied by sharp turns and climbing maneuvers. Airplanes can't roll, and will stop climbing at a certain altitude, forcing players to mainly stick to the course direction. The game features a time run mode and a split screen multi-player mode.[6][5]
To ease the game for newcomers, there are options to switch on autopilot or activate guide markers that highlight the easiest route through each course.[5]