Dark Sun Online:Crimson Sands is a online multiplayer roleplaying game, set in the AD&D world of Athas. When creating a character, the user is presented with many options on which race, class(es), and alignment they would like their character to be. Races such as half giants, kreens, elves, halflings, and dwarves can be selected, and available class combinations are then based on this selection. When choosing a class, one has the option of specializing in such classes as fighter, preserver, thief, along with several more. Alignment is sometimes based on class selection, while other times it too may be selected. A player may then roll a "dice", as many times as they desire to get the base stats for their character (str, dex, int, etc). Once everything is as the player wants, and a name has been selected, the character may be created.

Athas is a tough world- as much of it is desert, and citizens of Tyr live under the oppressive rule of the Templar Council. An unexperienced character will first want to set out and explore the marvelous city of Tyr. From the gates of the arena, to the brawls in the Drunken Giant, the city of Tyr is both intriguing and dangerous. Errands can be run to earn extra ceramic pieces (currency of Athas), as well as for gaining experience. Once a player feels they have learned enough of the city, they should move onto the fields of Tyr, where they may engage in battle with bandits, and various other "monsters". However, it is always a good idea to "group" up with others, as strength can be found in numbers. Furthermore, attack from other players is not a danger in the fields, as it is a non-pvp area, along with the city of Tyr.

The user friendly interface of DSO allows new players to quickly learn the ropes of the game, and there are always more experienced players willing to help. Also, the turned based system proves to be very advantagous to those not totally familiar with the game. Once a player begins to get the hang of it, leveling can become fairly easy. Unlike other MMORPGs, when gaining a level in DSO, the power of a character increases quite a bit. Spell casters gain a spell every level, as well as automatically obtaining certain spells when they advance a *spell* level (different for various classes). Also, many spells can be bought from merchants and learned by the caster. Players will soon find that they can move out of the fields, and are encouraged to fight harder monsters (as lower level monsters will not provide the best experience anymore). The world of Athas is very rich, and this is a very exciting time for a player. Throughout the history of Athas, there have always been many different guilds run by players. A new player may want to look into joining these player guilds, as they can be very rewarding. Guilds can help players in many areas of the game, and add depth to the world. Since maxxing a character (level 15 in most cases) is relatively easy, players are able to concentrate on developing their characters, and roleplaying with others (instead of just bashing monsters). Guilds are an integral part of the Athasian community, and most players find a home within one, as well as many good friends. Of course, a player always has the option to remain independent. Player vs. Player (PvP) combat is also an important aspect of the game. As with fighting Non-Player characters (NPCs), the combat is turn based. While some classes may prove to be more powerful in this area, a skilled player on a weaker character can often defeat someone not as skilled on a stronger character. Players are able to spar in the arena, without death penalties in order to practice their combat skills. Some guilds engage in guild wars which lead to large scale wars between groups of players. While random player killing is a problem in any ORPG with PvP combat, DSO's smaller community allows for these type of players to become known, and the hunters will often times find themselves to be the hunted.

DSO:Crimson Sands has come to be loved by former players, who believe that despite its flaws, it is a great game that should be enjoyed by all those who love a sense of community. While the graphics may not be visually stunning, many would choose DSO over the newer MMORPGs. The communication system in DSO is very good, and allows players to easily interact with many people around the world simultanously. Staff and players alike hold events in which roleplay is encouraged. Guilds provide players with a group with similar interests in which to ally themselves, as well as develop their character even further. There are too many reasons to list why DSO has attracted such a loyal group of players, who have come to love walking the sands of the Crimson Sun.