Rasputin: The Crusader's Quest is a single-player "search the dungeons to find the jewel" type of game. The netherworld takes the form of a court-yard from which doors take the player to different dimensions. Within each dimension there are magic stones that the player must step on to absorb their magic power and turn them from the dark side to the light.
The gameplay involves navigating through the netherworld, absorbing magic stones, fighting enemies, and collecting rune stones for protection. The player must use their energy wisely, as excessive use of the sword or shield will leave them vulnerable to attack. With six action keys at their disposal, the player can rotate their character, walk or jump forward, fight with their shield or sword, and absorb magic power.
The game world is a series of rooms that require the player to work out how to cross them to progress. Items to collect are often guarded by netherworld creatures that the player must defeat in combat or sneak past. If the player dies, they will reanimate at the start of the next section, but each reanimation will consume some of their life force.