Space Engineers is a sandbox game that emphasizes engineering, construction, exploration, and survival in both space and planetary environments. Players can build a variety of structures, including spaceships, vehicles, space stations, and planetary outposts. The game offers both creative and survival modes, allowing players to explore the vastness of space while gathering resources essential for survival.

Featuring a realistic, volumetric-based physics engine, every object in Space Engineers can be assembled, disassembled, damaged, and destroyed. The game supports single and multiplayer modes, enabling collaborative or competitive play. With a focus on construction, players are encouraged to utilize their creativity to build complex machines and fortifications, rather than relying on direct combat, making the experience unique and engaging.