Gray Zone is a tactical real-time strategy shoot 'em up with RPG elements. It's set hundreds of years into the future that involves a slave who turned against his masters. The player commands their own heroes and other friendly units to avoid or defeat the enemy, to complete story objectives, mandatory or optional. They build fire teams, use machines, vehicles and weapons, collect and distribute items. Their goal is to choose the right combat strategy to minimize their losses whilst achieving a result. The game allows them to freeze time in "tactic mode", which gives them unlimited time to re-think their strategy and issue different orders to multiple units at one moment.