The game follows three main playable characters: Yunica Tovah, a young apprentice knight; Hugo Fact, a skilled magician; and a mysterious person known as The Claw, who can be unlocked after completing the game with the other two. These characters venture to the sinister Darm Tower, each having their own motives. The three also vary in gameplay style: Yunica plays similarly to Adol from previous games, specializing in melee combat with swords and axes; Hugo fires magical bullets with his staff and has access to other types of magic; The Claw is distinguished by his speed in close combat.
The game is set entirely in the Darm Tower, discarding the overworld and populated areas of previous games. The fast-paced action RPG gameplay is similar to that adopted in Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim and Ys: The Oath in Felghana. As the story progresses, characters acquire skills that can be combined in order to extend battle strategy. Some of the bosses from the first and second Ys re-appear in this game.