Resistance: Retribution is set weeks after the events of Resistance: Fall of Man , where players take on the role of James Grayson, a former British Marine. Grayson's brother has been infected with the Chimera virus, leading him to destroy every conversion centre he can find. The Maquis enlist Grayson to retake Europe from the Chimera. The game features a third-person shooter perspective and utilizes a cover system that allows players to hide behind objects.
The gameplay involves hiding from enemy forces while utilizing the cover system to pop out and attack. Covers are automatically locked when approached, providing aiming assistance for added precision. Players can connect their PSP 2000 or 3000 to a television and play with a DualShock 3 controller, allowing them to access special features like Infected mode.
Infected mode offers an alternate history by merging events from Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 . Grayson is infected with a mutated version of the Chimeran virus, granting him new abilities such as regenerating health, underwater breathing, and access to hidden passages. This game mode provides an expanded story, but progress cannot be saved when quitting.
Multiplayer options include Ad Hoc and Infrastructure battles, with statistics tracking on MyResistance.net. Available game modes include deathmatch, team deathmatch, containment, capture the flag, and assimilation.