Wing Commander is a space combat simulation game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Players engage in a series of missions while managing cockpit performance, which impacts gameplay outcomes. Exceptional performance earns medals and rank promotions. Critical mission results influence the narrative, determining whether players advance the story through victory or defeat.
Gameplay consists of completing successive missions and overall cockpit performance affects gameplay: going above and beyond the call of duty results in medals, promotions in rank are awarded at regular intervals, and success or failure on certain critical missions decides the player's plot progress, `winning` or `losing`.