Played in three ages or rounds, Blood Rage features card drafting, battles and territory control via forces represented by sculpted plastic miniatures.

Battles are resolved without luck - players secretly play a card and add that to the strength of their forces in that region to determine the winner.

[6] Ben Guarino from Inverse also commented on the swiftness of the game rounds, strategic combinations enabled by the card drafting, and tension.

[3] The components, including the plastic miniatures which represented, the mythical monsters and Viking soldiers which battle on behalf of the players, were also met with positive reception.

[2][3][6][11] Charlie Theel for Ars Technica latter said that Blood Rage "confirmed Eric Lang as one of the preeminent modern board gaming designers.