Warlords Battlecry III is the third edition in the RTS/RPG hybrid series, which is itself a spin-off of SSG's Warlords turn-based strategy games. Like its predecessors, Battlecry III is set in the swords-and-sorcery world of Etheria, a land populated by humans, orcs, elves, and other fantasy races. Players choose a hero character who will lead their forces through a series of real-time missions, full of combat. Heroes develop as they move successfully through the campaign, enjoying custom improvements earned through experience.

Warlords Battlecry III offers more playable factions and hero types than earlier games in the series, with a total of 16 races and 28 character classes. Heroes can now keep retinues, who will follow them dutifully and offer support in battle. The human faction from previous games has been split into two separate races, the Empire and the Knights, and new races include the Saurians, the Plaguelords, and the Swarm. Hard-working heroes can now progress to level 50, and level up in the middle of missions.

Etheria had been enjoying a rare era of peace. Traders were expanding their routes when their ships came upon the forgotten southern continent. They found the land brimming with gold and silver and to claim these riches, they had only to slay a few of the primitive, obsidian creatures that seemed to populate the area. Yet soon enough they would realize their error: these "Ssrathi," as they call themselves, are far better organized than it first appeared, and capable of wielding powerful magic. And now, they are very angry.

Once again, war has come to the land of Etheria. Once again, the fate of the world will be determined by the one great hero who can lead his forces to ultimate victory.