The game takes place in a greenhouse. Player one is Stanley the Bugman, an exterminator. Player two, or the computer player in a singleplayer game, is Donkey Kong. Both players have a can of bug spray or water that they use to spray toward two bees to make them move to the other side of the screen. A point is gained for each space that the bee moves into the opponent's garden.

Game & Watch Donkey Kong 3 was remade for Game Boy Advance in Game & Watch Gallery 4, but instead of Stanley it features Mario, and the bees are replaced by a fireball and a Boo. It also takes place in a haunted house rather than a greenhouse.