Phantasy Star Online is an action role-playing game primarily played with other players cooperatively over the internet. Players take on the role of adventurers sent to explore Ragol, an uncharted planet.[9] To create their character, they choose between a handful of races and classes, which define their abilities and statistics; for example, some types are better with "techniques" (magic spells) while others are more skilled with ranged or melee weapons.[10]
Players can play either online or offline. Online, players are brought to a lobby where they can chat and organize teams of up to four.[11][a] Team members can communicate by typing using a physical or onscreen keyboard,[10] even when in different environments.[11] Preset phrases are automatically translated between languages, and custom emoticons are also supported.[10] Players can also exchange "guild cards" to exchange private messages and see when the other is online.[10]
After organizing a team, players are transported to their own instance of the hub spaceship Pioneer 2, where they can buy and sell items, store money and items, heal, and browse quests.[11] At any time, they can transport to Ragol, where combat and exploration take place.[11] The four environments – forests, caves, mines, or ruins[11] – comprise winding passages and large areas where enemies spawn.[11] Players fight enemies in real time, using weapons and techniques and collecting items.[14] Attacks can be chained for more accuracy and speed.[15][16] Typically, all the monsters in a room must be defeated to advance.[10] Each environment ends in a boss battle, which rewards the team with a large sum of experience points.[11] Quests, taken on Pioneer 2, task players with specific challenges; once completed, the team returns to Pioneer 2 to collect their reward.[11] Higher difficulties reward players with more experience points and better items. Some items can be used to feed the player's mag, a small creature that follows the player character and aids them in battle