Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear is a first-person shooter game that follows Will, a member of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. The player must capture a spy who holds the plans to a secret Iranian weapons facility, as nuclear war looms if they fail. The game features on-rails shooting gameplay, where the character automatically moves from point to point, and the player only needs to aim, shoot, and reload.
The game allows players to unlock new missions and content through an armory that can be accessed via a skill tree. Different paths offer unique upgrades, such as specific weapons, increased ammo capacity, or special abilities like faster reloading or extra health. Local co-op multiplayer mode supports up to four players.