The story of The First Templar revolves around Celian of Aristide, a French templar on a perilous quest to find the Holy Grail. As he navigates through treacherous landscapes, he must contend with the threats of a Saracen invasion and a sinister conspiracy against his order.
Gameplay in The First Templar is centered around cooperative play, where Celian is accompanied by a partner, often his daughter Marie. The action unfolds through intense melee battles against hordes of enemies, with Celian's arsenal consisting of three fundamental moves: standard attack, blocking, and a special ability that consumes "fervor" energy. Players can switch between Celian and his companion to overcome co-op challenges, but this is typically only necessary in specific puzzle-solving situations.
Beyond the combat sequences, players will encounter trap courses and stealth sections that require strategy and cunning. Each level features a primary objective and three bonus missions, which provide rewards such as experience points and valuable equipment upgrades.