The overhead-view simulation mode involves protecting and guiding the Master's new civilization towards prosperity, beginning with two humans.

This portion of the game requires the player to take actions that encourage the growth of the population, including road planning and using lightning, rain, sunlight, wind, and earthquakes as miracles.

The Angel can interact with the monsters in the area by shooting them with arrows as well as aid the Master by indicating where to build and use miracles.

One obstacle in the simulation mode is the presence of flying monsters that attempt to impede the progression of a civilization.

In the Master's absence, Tanzra divided the world into six lands, one for each of his lieutenants; they later turned the people to evil.

After several hundred years, the Master awakens fully recovered to discover that he has lost his powers due to the lack of belief in him.

As the game progresses, the Master defeats Tanzra's lieutenants and recovers his powers by rebuilding the civilizations of his people and communicating with them through prayer.

After all lieutenants have been slain, the Master commences an assault on Tanzra's stronghold, Death Heim, eventually defeating him.

The servant observes that, although the people once prayed to the Master in times of trouble, they no longer feel a need to because they are able to solve their remaining problems on their own.

The Master and his servant then enter the sky palace and depart into the heavens to await a time when they may be needed.

[2] Hence, the main character of the game was renamed "The Master", although the allegory remains, as he travels the globe in a palace on a cloud, accompanied by an angel; slays demons; creates life; performs miracles; and is prayed to by the populace of the world.

mode, unlocked after completing the game, containing only the action segments with a level design similar to the original Japanese release.

Square Enix released a limited version of the game for mobile phones, published by Macrospace on September 1, 2004.

A remake under the title of Actraiser Renaissance was released in September 2021, for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Windows.

[8] It drastically alters the flow of gameplay, with extra input commands in the action stages, and new tower defense segments in the simulator maps.

Its release within six months of the launch of the console demonstrated the compositional potential it represented to future projects, underscoring its ability to use and manipulate comparatively high-quality samples.

[31] Geoffrey Douglas Smith of AllGame wrote while the game was not the height of its genre, the unique combination and the orchestrated soundtrack result in enjoyable adventure.

[17] Super Gamer magazine gave a review score of 84%, calling it a brilliant mix of a strategic gods game and platforming elements.