Solarmax is a real-time strategy game in the vein of Nano War, Phage Wars and Civilizations Wars. In each stage, you must send out fleets to colonize planets until no enemy ships remain. The larger the planet, the longer it will take to colonize, and the more ships it will produce when colonized. In addition to planets, you will encounter warps, shipyards and lasers in later levels. Warps allow you to teleport your units to any planet. Shipyards produce ships like planets, but more rapidly. When you gain control of a laser, it will shoot enemy ships.