Crimson Alliance is an action role-playing game in which players control a wizard who uses long-range attacks, a mercenary who fights in melee, or an assassin who is a hybrid of the first two as they explore various dungeons in an attempt to stop the Soul Sire, an evil sorceress who has resurrected. The narrative is delivered through still photographs accompanied by voice acting. Although the game is billed as free, this is only a trial of the first stages. Following that, players must purchase the characters to proceed, either one at a time or all at once.
In-game, gathering gold is vital in defeating enemies, as it is required to upgrade armor and weapons or purchase single-use consumables. It is also possible to obtain gold in exchange for actual money. If fights become too heated, hitting the right bumper activates Ultimate Power, temporarily slowing time. After each level, a score is assigned based on the number of enemies killed, the number of secret rooms uncovered, and the time it takes to complete the level. The game supports four-player cooperative play, either online or locally.
