The Cursed Crusade follows Denz de Bayle, a knight cursed by the Templars that brings strength but also leads to his damnation over time. His quest is to find a cure for the curse, which he achieves by forming an alliance with Esteban Noviembre, who shares the same affliction.
The gameplay revolves around traditional hack & slay elements, such as walking through linear levels and fighting enemies in melee combat. However, the curse grants de Bayle the ability to switch between the normal game world and a hellish realm. This feature offers advantages, including increased strength, special attacks, and access to collectibles. Conversely, spending time in the hell world drains energy, which is replenished by killing enemies. The game features a skill tree with combo attacks for each weapon, unlocked through victory points earned from completing missions and finding hidden treasures.