The lords of Chaos, Kinetics, Synthesis, and Vitality compete for dominance, each trying to possess ether, the world's governing force. The goal of each of these leaders is to defeat the current White Lord, the master of ether, and become the next White Lord of the realm.

Etherlords is a turn-based card strategy game set in a fantasy world. The player selects either the Kinet/Vital or the Chaot/Synthet campaign. The heroes in the game are the units the player moves around the strategic map, much like in Heroes of Might and Magic series. However, instead of having hordes of creatures following the hero, he/she is equipped with a deck of fifteen cards. With these cards the player can summon creatures and cast different spells.

In the beginning the player only has the standard set of cards available per race, but as different locations on the strategic map are captured, the player can buy new, more powerful cards. To buy cards the player needs resources, which can be simply picked up or acquired by capturing mines. Both the strategic map and the battlefield utilize 3D graphics.