Garden Children are trained to protect the citizens in Luminous Arc from the witches and monsters that return with the appearance of God. Players take the role of Alph, a member of the Garden Children, as he adventures through many battles and quests with his brother and other members of the organization. Gamers become comfortable with the controls by completing 19 tutorials, and then explore several fantasy environments on a linear path towards their ultimate goal. Battles are played out on turn-based grids, and gamers can use either the stylus or D-pad to execute their moves. Each character has their own special ability, and when the party has a good relationship, they can increase their accuracy and defense by standing close to one another on the field. When players are in a town, they can interact with the locals, purchase items, and visit the library. Luminous Arc may be played alone or with a friend in competitive online action.