In the bridge view, most game functions are carried out by selecting an individual bridge officer, and selecting from a set of commands or options in order to control that individual's set of responsibilities. Additional modes in the game include the map mode and the cinematic mode, which removes the interface from being displayed and also switches to an external view of the ship. A variety of shortcut keys work in the same manner in both modes. While the bridge view has the player control the movements of the ship by interacting with members of the bridge crew, the tactical view changes to an external view allows the player to have direct control over the starship. There are several gameplay modes in Bridge Commander, with the main two means of control being the bridge view and the tactical view. In September 2021, the game was one of six Star Trek titles re-released on GoG.com in celebration of the franchise's 55th anniversary. Voices for the game were provided by Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner, reprising their roles from the series.
With the advent of modding for Bridge Commander, custom missions and campaigns have been made possible through this engine. Quick battle mode allows for customized scenarios within a "simulated" environment, allowing the player to pick their allies/enemies, system, etc. The game allows two different styles of gameplay: storyline mode and quick battle mode. The captain and his crew take command of the Galaxy-class USS Dauntless (NCC-71879) as well as the USS Sovereign (NCC-73811) to combat a new threat to the United Federation of Planets. Throughout the mystery, the player will encounter characters from the Star Trek universe, including Captain Picard and Commander Data. The plot revolves around a newly promoted captain who is assigned to investigate an explosion of a star in the Maelstrom. Star Trek: Bridge Commander is a space combat simulation video game for Microsoft Windows, developed by Totally Games and published by Activision in 2002, based in the Star Trek universe.