Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines – Mission 3 Walkthrough (My Honest Experience)
By Asif Ameer | October 2025 | Gaming Guides
I’ve played Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines countless times, but Mission 3 — “Reverse Engineering” still stands out as one of the most rewarding stealth missions in the entire series.
It’s that perfect mix of planning, patience, and precision. The kind of mission that makes you feel like a true special-ops strategist when you finally pull it off without raising a single alarm.
This walkthrough will guide you step by step through the mission — how I beat it cleanly, which tactics actually work, and a few personal tips to help you avoid common mistakes.
🎯 What Is Mission 3 “Reverse Engineering” About?
This snowy dam mission is where the Commandos gameplay really starts to open up.
Your objectives are straightforward:
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Cross the dam and clear the area
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Eliminate the machine-gun nests
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Plant explosives on key structures
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Escape safely with your team
But anyone who’s played Commandos knows — nothing is ever truly “simple.” One wrong move and the whole map comes alive with enemy gunfire.
🧰 Meet Your Team for This Mission
You’ll have four elite operatives under your command:
| Commando | Specialty | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Green Beret | Stealth kills & body hiding | Perfect for silent takedowns |
| Sapper | Explosives & traps | Use for ambushes and demolition |
| Spy | Disguises & distraction | Walks through restricted zones unnoticed |
| Marine | Underwater movement | Ideal for surprise kills and river crossings |
Your starting point is the north-east corner of the map — heavily guarded and patrolled. The first few minutes are about clearing this area quietly.
🪖 Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Phase 1 — Clear the Northeast Zone
Start slow. Study enemy patrol routes using the vision cones.
When one soldier turns away, sprint around the corner and take him down with your Green Beret’s knife.
Next, move behind the rock to the west. Fire a single shot to lure a nearby guard. As he investigates, eliminate him. Another will come running — he’s your next target.
Repeat the process until the immediate area is clean. Hide all bodies behind the rock or building wall before moving on.
Phase 2 — Crossing the Dam (or Taking the Boat)
Time for some coordination.
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Send your Marine into the water to silently kill the guard near the boat.
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Use the boat to transport your team across the river.
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Meanwhile, set a Sapper’s trap behind a dead body to lure a patrol on the dam.
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When they investigate — boom. One clean explosion, no backup triggered.
This clears the dam bridge area for safe passage.
Phase 3 — Clearing the West Bank
The west side hosts a machine-gunner with overlapping guard vision. Crawl your Green Beret just to the edge of visibility, then rush in when he turns and finish him with the knife.
Equip your Spy with a uniform from a fallen enemy to move freely.
Use him to distract isolated guards while the Green Beret handles takedowns.
Your Marine should meanwhile dive along the riverbank and eliminate two water-side soldiers. Timing is key — stay submerged until their patrol pattern creates an opening.
Phase 4 — Planting the Explosives
Once the path is clear, switch to your Sapper and plant two bombs:
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💣 First Bomb: On the bunker south of the dam.
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💣 Second Bomb: Further down the west bank.
After placement, get everyone to a safe distance, then trigger the detonation.
Watch as the dam erupts — your clean escape by boat marks mission success.
💡 Pro Tips (From My Own Playthrough)
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Save often. One wrong click can ruin a perfect run.
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Use crouching and body baiting. Enemies investigate corpses — use that to your advantage.
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Keep the Spy and Marine alive. They make later sections dramatically easier.
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Use the “under-shot” trick. Let enemies keep you in sight without fully detecting you, then strike when they relax.
🧠My Honest Experience
Mission 3 is where Commandos really starts to test your tactical discipline.
The first time I played it, I kept triggering alarms during the dam infiltration — total chaos. But once I slowed down and started treating every guard as a puzzle, the mission clicked.
The satisfaction of planting that final bomb and sailing away under the sound of explosions?
Absolutely unforgettable.
❤️ Why I Love “Reverse Engineering”
This mission captures everything that makes Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines legendary:
limited tools, zero margin for error, and the thrill of executing a flawless plan.
It’s not just about blowing things up — it’s about outsmarting an army.
If you’ve just started the game, Mission 3 will teach you more about stealth, coordination, and timing than any tutorial ever could.
Did you enjoy this walkthrough?
Let me know in the comments which Commandos mission gave you the toughest challenge — and I might write a detailed guide for it next.
