Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail is an adventure game that takes place in 9th century England and the Holy Land. It follows King Arthur's quest to find his missing knights, who are searching for the legendary Holy Grail. The curse that has befallen Camelot is slowly lifting, but only if King Arthur can complete his journey. The gameplay involves inputting text commands to navigate the environment and interact with non-playable characters. A variety of tasks are presented, including exploration, solving riddles, gathering information, and participating in arcade sequences such as jousting. Players must also manage their resources, as money management is present in the game.
Completing certain quests is not essential to progress through the game, but failing to do so may result in a lower overall score. King Arthur's judgment will be evaluated in three categories: skill, wisdom, and soul. The player must balance these aspects to achieve the best possible outcome.
The game sets its story in historical England during the 9th century, but introduces an alternate reality with pagan deities and a unique take on the time period.