From the designer's website:
Crystal Core: Battle for Nih'ki is a tactical wargame for two to four players.
Players battle for control of various objective zones, using one of four factions: the Daiseep, Humans, Khelons, and Saahrai. Each force is commanded by one or two Heroes, and features a number of Troopers and/or Vehicles. In the advanced game mode, players can select armoury cards to provide their units or their whole force with unique abilities.
Crystal Core features simulated parallel play through the use of command cards, which are selected simultaneously by each player, and define what actions are available for that round. Players must devise a plan for each round, and execute it with a focus on army-cohesion and maneuvering for prime position to achieve victory.
The game also provides a superior wargaming experience by eliminating several of the upkeep actions associated with wargames, including model-per-model movement, excessive dice rolls, and army wide actions, thereby providing maximum entertainment in a modest timeframe.