Cabal Online is a free-of-charge, 3D massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), developed by South Korean company ESTsoft. Different versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, published by various companies such as OGPlanet and Asiasoft. Although Cabal Online is free-of-charge, the game has a "Cash Shop" which allows players to purchase game enhancements and useful ingame items using real currency. The game takes place in a mythical world known as Nevareth, which was destroyed by an evil entity known as the CABAL. Out of the survivors, seven "Masters" rose up, each wielding the abilities of the "Force Power". These masters taught the people, and Nevareth was rebuilt. Years later, the CABAL is plotting a return to power, and the characters of the game take up the role of heroes who battle the CABAL uprising and conspiracy.

Like many MMORPGs, gameplay centers around killing monsters, doing quests and venturing into dungeons to obtain experience points (EXP) and "Alz", the ingame currency (Alz means gold pieces). Players can band together to form a party, with a maximum of 7 characters. Extra "party experience" is obtained by the members of the party, based on their contributions.

Characters exist on "servers", each with its own unique name (e.g. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Neptune). Though the North American version of the game only has 2 different servers, Mercury and Venus. However, players from different servers cannot interact with each other, and characters cannot be transferred between servers. In each server, players can create multiple characters (up to 6 per server per account). Every server has 20 channels, some with its own specifics. (e.g. Channel 20 is a War Channel- Players can PK freely through the channel). There are 2 Premium Channels (Special Channels only accessible when the premium is bought (Astral Points). There is a Trade channel (Special for Trading) and a Beginner Channel (For new starters). Each server offers the same ingame content, and is split into multiple channels, among which players are allowed to freely switch. There are specific channels for certain activities, like trading and conducting war.

The world of Cabal Online is split into different zones or maps. New characters only have access to three of the available zones, but will gain access to more zones as they progress in the game. Each zone has a theme (e.g. desert, jungle and snow) and its own unique set of NPCs and monsters. In order to travel from one zone to another, players must go through the warp gate found in each zone.

There are six character classes in Cabal Online. Once a character is created, the player must choose which character class that character will assume. The six character classes are: Warrior, Blader, Wizard, Force Blader, Force Shielder and Force Archer. Characters who assume different character classes will differ in several aspects, including the location they start the game and the type of weapon and armor they use. Each different classes have their own starting point, and armor. There are only 2 classes that use the same armor and starting point. Warriors and Force Shielders use the Armor set and starts in Bloody Ice, Force Bladers and Force Archers use the Battle set and starts in Green Despair, Bladers and Wizards use the Martial set and starts in Desert Scream. Each starting point sells armor used by the starting classes. The Bloody Ice armor shop sells only the Armor set, up to Bluestin. The Desert Scream armor shop only sells the Martial set, and the Green Despair shop only sells the Battle set. Weapons are sold all across Cabal. The only places to find Crystals (Force Shielders and Force Archers) are in the Core Alchemist shop of every town. There are restrictions to the use of weapons for different classes, along with a Stat Criteria. Warriors use Great Swords, and concentrate on Strength. Bladers use Blades and Katanas, and can equip 2 of each weapon, or have a mix. Bladers focus mostly on Dexterity, for accuracy and agility. Wizards use Orbs, and focus especially on Intelligence, for increased Magic Attack. Force Shielders concentrate on Int and Dex, and uses Swords and Crystals. Force Archers wield double crystals, and summons a bow by using the Astral Weapon Skill. Force Bladers concentrate on Str and Int. For an All Around specialty. Force Bladers use Katanas and Orbs only.