Swords & Wizardry is a retro-clone of the original 1974 version ("0e") of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). The White Box editions were created by taking the original Core Rules and stripping out all elements not present in D&D's original 3-Volume Set. As a result, familiar elements from the Supplements (Greyhawk et. al), like weapons doing different damage or classes using different hit dice, are not present.

Like the Core Rules, White Box is a complete rule set, including monsters and treasures. Characters can choose from the cleric, fighter, and magic-user classes, and from the dwarf, elf, and halfling races. The game caters to both old school and newer gamers with ascending and descending armor class, and consolidates the traditional five saving throws into one number.