Lichdom: Battlemage is a first-person action game with RPG elements where the focus is centered around casting and combining different spells. The player is given control of an mage with infinite power that can cast spells without any need of mana or rest.
The gameplay revolves around choosing between three sigils (spell schools) at any given time, each having three types of spells: missile attack, nova attack, and long range AOE attack. Each spell can be modified to have different effects, affecting the gameplay in various ways.
The player's shield also comes in three flavors: agile, strategic, and tactical. Each type of shield offers a reduction in time to cast a specific attack type based on its specifics. Additionally, the game features a basic crafting mechanic where players can combine spells to create better variants of their effects.
The story is told differently depending on the player's chosen gender, with the character's personality influencing the narrative. The story revolves around a dragon and a gryphon seeking revenge after being betrayed by a cult led by Malthus, who killed his wife and took her sister.