SLOW ORBIT is a small idle space war made for the unused bottom corner of your screen. It opens there automatically in a borderless, always-on-top window, so you can keep an eye on the fleet while you work, watch something or play another game.

The ships handle combat and planet conquest on their own. Jump in whenever you want: click the battlefield to add a few shots, or fire a heavy barrage. A barrage can rescue a close fight, but it burns part of your hull and can end a run if you get greedy.

Each conquered planet pays credits. Spend them on more income, harder hits, stronger armor, quicker repairs and other upgrades. If the fleet is destroyed, you return to the first planet and lose the credits and upgrades from that run. Your rank, cards and weapons stay with you, giving the next attempt a better start.

Promotions offer four choices at a time, so every expedition can develop differently. Later, you can begin a new departure and trade the current run for Legacy and another ship. Gear and career progress carry over, and every type of ship adds something different to the fleet.

Every fifth planet is an outpost. Every tenth is a bastion with shields and defensive guns. That is usually where an easy run stops being easy—and where one more upgrade or a well-timed barrage can make the difference.