Dead or Alive 3 is a 3D arcade fighting game developed by Team NINJA, released exclusively for Xbox in 2001 as the third entry in the Dead or Alive series. The roster includes both new and returning fighters, and matches take place across interactive environments that players can engage with during combat. Technical enhancements include updated lighting, as well as dynamic muscle and clothing movement that respond in real time. The single-player mode features a range of expansive stages to progress through, while multiplayer supports up to four players competing simultaneously. The game builds on its predecessors with a broader set of features and content, continuing the series' focus on fast-paced, kinetic combat.

Storyline

The hero ninja Ryu Hayabusa put a stop to the evil doings of Tengu, but it was too late to stop him from triggering a massive worldwide collapse. A dense cloud covered the entire planet in a shroud of darkness and fear. DOATEC has gone astray, turning into the hunting grounds for power-hungry scam artists. This is when DOATEC's development department (a fortress for state-of-the-art military technology) witnesses the success of a genius. Following Project Alpha and Project Epsilon, the ever ambitious scientist, Dr. Victor Donovan completes the Omega Project, producing a new superhuman: Genra. The man, who was once leader of the Hajin Mon ninja of the Mugen Tenshin clan, is no longer human, but a force of singular and unprecedented capabilities known as Omega. To test the subject Omega's skills, DOATEC announced the third Dead or Alive World Combat Championship.