In New Frontiers, a standalone game in the Race for the Galaxy family, players build galactic empires by selecting, in turn, an action that everyone may do, with only the selecting player gaining that action's bonus.

The developments to be used are determined during setup, allowing players to make strategic plans based on them before play begins. One group of eight developments is always in play. The game includes a suggested set of sixteen additional developments for your first game; in later games, players randomly select which side of eight double-sided "small" developments and eight double-sided "large" 9-cost developments to use during setup.

Mange af de verdener, som spillerne kan tage have specielle egenskaber, og de trækkes op i Udforsknings-fasen. I New Frontiers (ulig i Race) skal der bruges nybyggere for at lave bosættelser, udover ekstra betalinger eller erobring.

Nogle verdener er "forfaldne" og giver en vare, når de bosættes. Andre har produktion og giver varer, når handlingen Producér vælges. Varer kan handles til penge eller forbruges for point.

Spillet fortsætter indtil en eller flere af de 4 slutbetingelser er opfyldt. Når alle handlinger i den runde er afsluttet, er vinderen den spiller med flest point fra bosatte planeter, udviklinger (små og store), og pointbrikker fra forbrug.