Battle Realms is a fantasy real-time strategy innovation inspired by kung-fu movies and Japanese mythology. Players assume the role of the hero, Kenji, and develop a village of peasants into a clan of individual, highly specialized warriors.

While most real-time strategy games focus mostly on resource mining and mass unit production, players of Battle Realms will spend most of the game waging war. Not to say that unit production isn't important; in fact, unit production is intricate and vital. Each unit starts as a simple peasant, and is trained for a specific role in a dojo. Cross-training, experience, and planning can turn a simple peasant into a powerful samurai warrior.

The world and environment of Battle Realms play an important role in the campaign. The battlefields come alive with weather and wildlife. Combat will change as the elements shift. Individual battles can be won and lost, but the war rages on. Noble acts during combat earn you Zen points with which warriors can improve their weapons and magic. Use these resources to build your army one warrior at a time, and conquer Battle Realms.