The game begins with a recreation of the opening moments of the movie, featuring the dialogue between Oberst von Luger, the commandant of Stalag Luft III, and RAF Group Captain Ramsey, the de facto leader of the Allied prisoners in the camp.

The first few levels of the game are framed as Ramsey recounting the previous exploits of the prominent prisoners in the camp to RAF Squadron Leader Bartlett.

The later levels of the game, mostly based on scenes from the movie, follow the four playable characters as they attempt to leave Germany.

Hendley and Blythe jump off a moving train to avoid Gestapo officers and later steal a fighter plane from a German airfield.

By contrast, the later levels of the game are nearly all based on scenes from the film, albeit significantly expanded, in particular in the case of Sedgwick, who is shown undertaking several missions for the French Resistance before escaping with their help into Spain.

[12] Edge gave the Xbox version a score of four out of ten and said that it was "saved by a few good set-pieces and the licence", but was critical to its gameplay in general.