The game is driven by real science and real physics, aspects which Tyson found crucial to creating a unique and compelling gaming experience. Tyson has input in the design of the game's challenges. Tyson was originally skeptical towards the idea when the studio approached him, believing the game was aimed at young players, but they demonstrated their plans to target the game for all ages, bringing him aboard the project.

While they recognize they wanted to make an educational game, Murphy said that they did not want it to be reduced to a series of quizzes or an open-ended world without any instruction, but instead make for a fun and interesting challenge to players of all ages. According to Murphy, the goal of the game is to provide an experience similar to Minecraft and Civilization to encourage players to explore space. Space Odyssey is being developed by Space Media Ventures, and is a cooperative development including SMV's Creative Director, Mark Murphy and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Initial ideas for the game include a virtual assistant voiced by Tyson and a story that begins on Proxima B. Players will be able to share their creations with others and visit the systems that others have made.

The game provides various challenges to players that, if completed successfully, reward them with items to further help their species. This not only includes defining the planetary bodies within the system, but managing a spacefaring species as it harvests resources from those stellar bodies to expand its civilization through research, production, and trade to make said civilization successful. Players in Space Odyssey are tasked with creating solar systems and larger stellar bodies in a virtual galaxy. The game is being co-developed by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and has some educational aspects as the player designs and grows parts of a virtual galaxy.

Space Odyssey: The Video Game is an upcoming sandbox video game with 4X elements developed by Space Media Ventures for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android systems, including virtual reality devices. Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Space Odyssey by Michael Benson