Medal of Honor: Airborne follows the story of Boyd Travers, a member of the 82d Airborne Division, as he completes several missions in Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. His goal is to free Europe from enemy occupation.
The gameplay involves completing objectives such as blowing up anti-aircraft weapons, rescuing fellow soldiers, and taking out enemy tanks using bazookas. Players can choose their initial weapon loadout after a briefing and parachute into the mission area for added freedom. Upgrades can be earned by performing extraordinary feats of valour and marksmanship, allowing players to access more advanced equipment.
The health system is also notable, with Boyd having four beads of health that regenerate over time. If an enemy hits him but doesn't empty a whole bead, his health will replenish until it's full again. Players must pick up health packs to regain lost health if they lose a bead.
Multiplayer modes are available for up to 12 players, featuring Team Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch Airborne, and Objective modes. The latter involves capturing all three flags on the map, with Team Deathmatch Airborne introducing a new twist where the Allied team parachutes onto the map first.