Rambo III's mission is set in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Colonel Trautman has been kidnapped by the Soviets, and Rambo must rescue him. This is a three-part operation based on the plot of the film.
Gameplay begins with a top-down view of a building where Trautman could be held. The player must navigate through this heavily protected area to reach Trautman. Infrared security beams are present, which activate when detected, unleashing enemies and hazards like mines and trapdoors. To overcome these obstacles, special goggles can be collected to reveal the location of the beams.
The gameplay is repeated in a second section outside the building, where Rambo faces enemies from the start, without any traps or challenges. The final section transforms into an Operation Wolf-style shoot 'em up, with Rambo facing a horde of tanks, foot soldiers, and helicopters. Rambo's gun can jam, adding to the challenge of escaping alive.