The game, like its predecessors, is mostly a third-person shooter and has players fight various types of AI enemies in both single-player and multiplayer modes. Unlike its predecessors, Dark of the Moon features a single linear campaign rather than one for each faction, with players changing between the Autobots' and the Decepticons' perspective between levels.
Most notably, the game introduces a new feature called "Stealth Force", which allows the characters to use weapons while in vehicle form. In both vehicle and robot form, characters have access to two special abilities, which change when the player transforms. For example, Ironhide may have the ability to throw grenades in robot form, and a speed-up ability in vehicle form. The multiplayer component of the game features four classes: Scout, Hunter, Commander and Warrior, which all have specific traits, such as the Scout being faster than the other classes, or the Warrior having more health.