The game starts in the year 2300. There are 10 playable races and each of them has the potential to compete in space conquest on approximately equal footing. Each race is concerned solely with itself and the goal of each race is to rule the galaxy.
Previously, in the galaxy, a race called Orions colonized a planet called Orion. They later completely left the galaxy and left remnants of their powerful technology on the Orion planet and set a powerful space ship called the Guardian to keep it from falling into the hands of primitive species. It is said that the civilization that can recover this technology will rule the universe.
In the game, you take the form of the ruler of your civilization and you primarily make decisions on a very high level. You primarily deal with the spending of your planets in the areas of ship building, defense building, factory construction, ecology, and research. Additionally, you give orders to your ships in regards to surveying and colonizing new planets and engaging enemy forces as well as controlling the design of your warships. You also deal with diplomatic relations with the other species and spying.