Most battles can be played in an hour or less. Starship Troopers uses a programmed rules system, introducing a handful of rules for each of its 12 battles. For Battle 1 players need learn only three pages of rules, and each successive battle introduces a few more, allowing them to be gradually and easily learned. The entire rules booklet is only 16 pages, and includes many illustrations and diagrams and a full-page terrain key.
Basic rules cover setup, sequence of play, movement, bug reinforcements, and combat.
The simplicity of this game is accentuated by the limited number of pieces in play at any time. There are usually six or eight troopers in play, and never more than 10. The bugs usually have somewhat more, and use an elegant reinforcement system for bringing up reinforcements to replace those killed in battle. Victory conditions range from trying to exit a patrol from an area held by hostile forces to entering and doing battle in underground arachnid tunnels. Starship Troopers is also a big, good-looking game with components that players will not have to worry about scattering with hands shaky from fatigue or inebriation.