Dull Star is a web-based strategy game in which players control a giant space station which is the home to various other smaller spacecraft. It can build new facilities, enhance research, construct new spacecraft and various other things. Players can forge alliances, attack other players and harvest minerals to improve their spacecraft. The goal of the game is to destroy all other opponents. Other gamemodes later on will include a co-op vs AI which will feature a massive enemy space station which the users will have to destroy.

Every player starts off with a station which can be customized to their heart's content. It is a mobile (but slow) unit which can traverse through space in the predefined 1000x1000 grid. The spaceship can be improved through the use of minerals, metals and other resources found throughout the map. These can be obtained by mining asteroids, harvesting planets or salvaging destroyed enemy spaceships.

The core idea of the space station is that it serves as the central hub of all activity. It can construct new spaceships in the shipyard, increase population through additional living quarters, build research labs to enhance research, produce energy through reactors/solar energy, etc.

It can grow as big as a small moon (depending on the choices the player makes) allowing it to house bigger and better spacecraft and other features.

The idea is that each facility is upgradeable an infinite number of times. However, the cost and time to increase a facility by one level will increase exponentially. As such, it would be very hard and take a long time to unlock all features of all facilities in one station. Players will have to make choices on the path they will take and what facilities to level according to their playstyle.

The shipyard is the area where new spacecraft are built. Examples of these spacecraft are typical fighters, miners and eventually bigger ships like destroyers or dreadnaughts. Higher levels of shipyards will increase production time and allow you to create newer and better spacecraft.

The hangar is the location your military spacecraft are stored in. The higher your hangar level, the more spacecraft you can have.

The living quarters houses your pilots and employees. You also need enough population to build new facilities, train new pilots (= make new spacecraft), ... .

The research lab increases your research rate. You unlock new research possibilities as you level your research lab.

Used to transfer or trade goods with other people.

The mining facility is the hub of your harvesting units. The higher your mining facility, the more harvesters you can hold and use.

The Storage room does exactly what it says: offer more storage space for your minerals/ores.

The gambling area produces money which you can use to purchase new spacecraft and resources/items on the black market. The higher your population, the more money you create. Being in the neighbourhood of other friendly ships will attract a portion of their population and will produce extra gold.

The engineering facility oversees all construction. Leveling up the Engineering facility increases building speed and allows you to make new facilities.

Produces items which enhance spacecraft abilities. They have to be stored in your storage room or fitted on your ships.

Your military troops can operate in two ways. First, they can be sent from your space station to targets of choice. The second way is creating a fleet of spaceships which act as a second (or third, etc) base where they can operate from. This will leave your base fairly undefended though.