Swords & Soldiers is a 2D Side-scrolling strategy game. You and your opponent have a base at the opposite ends of a path, and units automatically move forward, attacking enemy units when they are in range. You don't have control over your units, but some magic abilities can help your units, or hinder your enemies. In some levels, there are occurrences where the path splits and rejoins at a short distance. You can choose which path to venture down, by clicking the sign-post. Some of the story levels will have different objectives, so you may have to recover certain objects/units, take over strategic areas, or have a limited amount of gold/units.
There are 3 factions; Viking, Chinese, and Aztec, each with different units and abilities. On each level, the set of units can be more limited to give you different challenges. Often you have to unlock the available units via an upgrade tree which costs gold.
Worker units collect gold from the mine next to your base. With the accumulated gold, you can create units, or research new units or magic abilities. Your abilities cost mana which generates over time. There’s a wide range of abilities, the Vikings have abilities such as attacking a unit with lightning, healing a unit, charging multiple units, temporarily freezing a group of enemies.
In certain locations, you can place down towers, and each faction has variants. Vikings have a defensive tower which can be mounted by their ranged axe-throwers. Aztecs have a mana generating statue.
The levels are generally short and some can be completed within 5 minutes. The majority of levels are very easy but there are some particularly tricky levels, especially on the non-standard levels. If you play all the campaigns, DLC, and some of the extra modes, you will definitely get several hours of gameplay out of it.