The game functions primarily as a remake of Cossacks: Back to War , offering updated graphics to replay those historical scenarios, as noted on the Cossacks 3 Wiki .

These focus on pivotal moments like the English Civil War (Roundheads vs. Cavaliers), Polish conflicts, and Russian expansion, offering 5-6 missions each.

Prominent scenarios include the Battle of Edgehill and the Battle of Naseby (1645).

Additional content expands the story to include the Swedish "Lion of the North" campaign, Scottish struggles, and Polish-Lithuanian wars.

The "proper" experience is structured through these main components:

Many players prefer these for creating custom battles on random maps, which better captures the chaotic, large-scale feel of the era, according to user reviews on YouTube .

Cossacks 3 does not have a single, linear story, but rather features a collection of historical campaigns and scenarios centered on 17th–18th century European conflicts, emphasizing authentic military encounters over a character-driven narrative.