The developers describe Fragile Existence as an original blend of real-time strategy, 4X, and survival genres. As players, they have to seek out worlds in need of key resources, tactically scanning and planning ground expeditions over the players they control. It expands upon common RTS features on the surfaces of planets, such as building bases and controlling units, which offer different difficulties than the outer space operations do. The game offers multiple features including uninterrupted operations, complexity in the space and planet interrelationship, and a sandbox mode which entails establishing colonies, resource management, and combating the many perils that exist in space.