Samurai Warriors 3 retells events from Japan's Sengoku period, an era from the mid-16th to the early 17th century when the country was ruled by powerful daimyo and marked by constant military conflict and political intrigue. Compared to the previous game, which focused mainly on the lead-up to the Battle of Sekigahara, this entry broadens its timeline to also cover the events that came before it. Players take part in these conflicts through the perspectives of the period's warring commanders.