Players will be able to control either Point Man or Fettel, but Fettel is an enemy. He can assist Point Man, but his agenda is unclear and players can decide to go off on their own and play without directly assisting the other.

Fettel will have access to a number of intriguing powers, including stun blasts and the ability to possess virtually any enemy in the game. Once Fettel has occupied an opponent, he gains control over their powers and can turn them on other enemies. Point Man, alternatively, will still be a more straight-forward soldier type, though Day 1 Studios is developing a first-person cover system which will be of great value to Point Man during a fire fight.

The developers note that they appreciated the Left 4 Dead Director system, which constantly adjusted the gameplay experience on the fly to keep every playthrough feeling fresh. Day 1 is attempting to do something similar with F.E.A.R. 3, as well as implement a scoring system which will encourage players to come back and replay the game.