Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a action role-playing game in which players, taking on the role of the Fateless One, explore the fantasy world of the Faelands.[1] The Fateless One's gender, appearance, and race (the human Almain and Varani groups, and the Alfar Ljosalfar and Dokkalfar tribes) are customised at the start.[2][3] Each race has unique boosts to different attributes, with further passive enhancements through choosing a patron deity.[2] Navigation is limited to the player walking or running through open areas and dungeon environments, with specific platforms for contextual jumps to lower areas, and the ability to swim through deep water.[4][5] Players complete a variety of quests related to the main scenario, self-contained quest lines for groups dubbed Factions, non-repeatable side quests, and repeatable Tasks all available from non-playable characters (NPCs) found through the world's five regions.[6] Completing quests, discovering regions of the world and completing some in-game activities reward experience points which raises the character's level and statistics.[2]
The real-time combat focuses on the player using their two equipped weapons, and equippable active skills unlocked through skill trees and activated through the players magic point (MP) meter. Available weapons include two sword types, two types of daggers, bows, hammers, and chakrams.[7][8][9] The player can also block with a shield accessory with an enemy being stunned with correct timing, or dodge to avoid attacks. Some movement abilities are tied to specific character Abilities.[4][9][10] Combat is based around button timing, with different combinations triggering alternate attacks and more attack options unlocking as the player's level increases.[6][9] Enemies are locked to a specific level range when entering an area of the world.[6] During combat, an energy called Fate is rewarded if the player uses a varied range of attacks. With a full Fate metre, the player can trigger "Reckoning" mode, which slows down time for everyone except the player for as long as the metre has Fate energy. An enemy down to low health can be killed through a cinematic attack, with the player able to mash a button to gain an experience boost. All enemies also in low health will also die.[1][11] Enemies drop in-game currency and randomised loot including weapons, crafting materials and items such as potions.[12] If the player runs out of health, the Fateless One dies and they must restart from a previous save.[2][11]
Character customization focuses on skills and enhancements unlocked through three Ability trees (melee-focused Might, stealth-based Finesse, magic-focused Sorcery), equipment and weapons, and tarot cards called Destinies.[2][9] Destinies function as a character class system, with different ones unlocked as points are placed in different Ability trees and granting passive enhancements to character statistics or combat abilities.[3][6][9] Completing Faction questlines and story sections unlock Twists of Fate, permanent Destinies granting additional passive enhancements. The character's Skill and Ability points can be reset at any point using characters in the world dubbed Fateweavers, who will undo the current character build for a fee.[2]
Outside combat, the player has nine different passive Skills which can be increased using points gained from leveling up. These are not combat related, instead tying into the player's abilities outside of combat such as crafting or talking to NPCs.[2][13] These are Lockpicking, which allows the player to unlock chests and doors around the world; Blacksmithing, easing the forging and salvaging of weapons and armor; Dispelling, which eases the player's ability to remove magical wards from some chests; Detect Hidden which uncovers hidden item caches and reveals more landmarks on the local map; Persuasion, which can unlock additional dialogue options for some NPC conversations; Sagecraft, used to create gems to enhance weapons and armour; Alchemy, which increases the success and complexity of potion making; Mercantile, which influences selling and buying prices with in-game merchants; and Stealth which eases the player's ability to sneak around enemies and detect traps.[1][2] Alongside this the player can acquire houses with access to storage for excess items.[2]