Orbit lets players experience the classic 4x formula (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) in about 30 minutes. Each player has their own 'kit' / set of pieces, which is what lets it scale to potentially infinite players - just find someone else with a kit and start playing!

Your rondel starts with a star and 6 starting hexes (a moon, an asteroid, a comet, and some space dust). As you play, Scout (Explore), Mine (Exploit), Buy (Expand), or Zap (Exterminate) the celestial bodies in your star's orbit. Each player also starts with 3 random goals of different types - these reward you for placing certain celestial bodies adjacent to each other, for the resources you will collect, or for collecting the celestial bodies desired.

The game uses a leader-follower mechanic - each turn, one player chooses one of those actions that all players must take, if they can. Each player then chooses how they want to take it, since they all have access to their own solar system, their own market, etc. Skillful players will consider which action they personally most want to take alongside which action other players might want you to choose. If an action cannot be taken by a player at all, they must pass. There is some value in forcing another player to take an action they would not choose themselves…

The game ends when anyone has placed 12 celestial bodies around their star or when anyone has gone through their stack of hexes. Go through your goals and count up the points earned from your solar system, and the player with the most points wins.