After landing on the beaches of Normandy, soldiers spread out to liberate Europe from the Nazi regime. In Call of Duty 3, single players focus on the stories of four Allied soldiers that begin at Operation Cobra, and leads to the eventual Liberation of Paris. Game room generals will lead the group through 14 missions filled with multiple attack routes as a member of either the American, British, Polish, and Canadian armies. Each path requires the use of special tactics in order to navigate the course effectively.

Soldiers come equipped with special skills such as the British SAS soldier's knack for sabotage and the Canadian mechanized infantry's expertise at inventive vehicles. The Wii controller is used in all aspects of combat, and players must use the motion sensor technology to reload, throw a grenade, row a boat, and wield a dagger. Environments include deformable objects such as piles of wood that move and splinter when shot and players may destroy soft cover to flush enemies out in the open. Additional "Battle Action" invites gamers to shoot less and get their hands dirty setting C-4 charges and fighting Germans with their bare hands.