Gameplay and controls in World at War remain similar to Modern Warfare. The directional pad controls movement. The touch screen is utilized for aiming, as well as switching and reloading weapons, and several minigames. The shoulder buttons are used to fire whatever weapon is equipped. The player double-taps the touch screen, or taps an icon on the touch screen, to go in and out of "aim-down sight" mode, which uses the weapon's iron sights to aim more accurately.
The game includes a campaign with a series of missions based in World War II's Pacific Ocean theater of World War II and Eastern front with American, British and Soviet campaigns.[6] Missions are chronological and often sequential. World at War offers a quick play mode that lets the player access any mission they have won in the campaign.