O.R.B., the acronym for Off-World Resource Base, is a 3D real-time strategy game that allows you to command a large fleet of ships in the void of space. You command the military forces of either the Malus or the Alyssians in a battle for supremacy in the Aldus solar system. Extracting resources from the asteroid belt that revolves around the two planets allows you to expand your fleet - but only if you can get your transports safely back to your spaceport. Researching new technologies allows you to upgrade the capabilities of your existing ships and build new models as well. You may capture enemy ships and steal technology to open up new research branches. There is also the opportunity to discover hidden secrets from the artifacts that may be discovered throughout the asteroid belt. All the while, you can watch the skills of the Squad Leaders develop, from scenario to scenario, as they carry forward and gain experience.

O.R.B. is fully 3D. This means that all of your ships can move in any direction. It also means an enemy fleet can attack from any direction. The key to the game is controlling the asteroid belt that moves around Malus and Alyssia. The dynamic nature of the terrain creates a dilemma for you - do I defend my resource base once it enters enemy space or abandon it? This dilemma offers opportunities as well. Secret bases may be built in asteroids that have been stripped of resources to act as launch pads for guerrilla assaults in enemy territory. Success will go to the player who can coordinate multiple attacks.