Star Shatterer: The Gathering Storm offers warfare for brave spacefarers on both sides of the command console. Player can take the role of a fighter pilot, to embark on dangerous dog-fighting missions, or that of a starship captain, who eventually becomes responsible for the tactical maneuvers of an entire fleet. Whether from the cockpit or the captain's chair, experience and promotions allow the player's character to develop into a key figure in the protection and expansion of the known galaxy.
The main game revolves around four dynamic campaigns, which generate different events every time they are played, though major events appear in every playthrough to maintain the story. Each campaign begins with each side having a set number of ships and fighters, which are the deployed to perform missions.