[2] It is open-ended, giving the player multiple paths to complete objectives, but plays similarly to the series' previous installment.

[3] Players fight alongside AI-controlled teammates against enemies who use various attack patterns, hide behind cover, and regroup to improved defensive positions.

[5] Using cover helps the player avoid enemy fire or recover health after taking significant damage.

[4][6] The player takes the perspective of either an American, British, Canadian, or Polish soldier during the single-player campaign, for a total of 14 missions.

Set in the Western Front of World War II, Call of Duty 3 takes place in the year 1944 and contains missions specific to four major Allied campaigns in the Battle of Normandy.

They then aid in the liberation of a crossroads at Le Bourg-Saint-Léonard, trapping the remaining German forces by closing the Falaise Pocket, before being ordered to defend Chambois against those retreating.

Guzzo takes command and the squad retakes and defends the town as American reinforcements force the Germans to surrender.

In the British campaign, the player controls Sergeant James Doyle, a member of an SAS regiment, who are sent to France to assist the Maquis Resistance.

Parachuting in near Toucy after their Handley Page Halifax is shot down, Doyle is rescued by Pierre LaRoche, the Maquis leader, and regroups with Corporal Duncan Keith, Major Gerald Ingram, and resistance member Isabelle DuFontaine.

In the Canadian campaign, the player controls Private Joseph Cole of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, led by veteran Lieutenant Jean-Guy Robichaud.

They destroy a German artillery battery, before moving to capture a German-held industrial complex, holding off an enemy counterattack.

The platoon later clears a forested area near the Laison River of several anti-tank positions and a motor pool for Allied convoys to move through.

The squad is attacked by a King Tiger tank, and Sergeant Jonathan Callard manually detonates charges on an ammunition stockpile below ground to destroy it, sacrificing himself.

While aiding Canadian and British forces in the French countryside, the crew engages German armored units to capture and occupy Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil.

During the battle, Bohater's crew hunts down and destroys a King Tiger commanded by the tank ace nicknamed "Black Baron".

Later, while defending Hill 262, the crew endure an assault by the remnants of the German 7th Army in their attempt to escape the Falaise Pocket.

Bohater's tank is destroyed, forcing the crew to fight on foot alongside the Polish infantry; Sergeant Łukasz Kowalski is killed.

It was revealed that Treyarch would be developing the title (their second in the series after Call of Duty 2: Big Red One) which was set to release later that year.

[27][28] Retrospective assessments of Call of Duty 3 have been mostly negative; it has placed low in lists ranking the series' games.