Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth brings back most of the staple gameplay systems from previous titles back, with some changes and additions. Players can now pick up between three different ships, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This games ditches the ability of swapping weapons during gameplay, as weapon types are now tied to each ship. Aside of the main weapon and smart bombs (here called Ex-Arms, of which each ship has two different ones), the ships also have a new Rolling maneuver, a defensive move which makes the ship briefly invincible and deflects enemy bullets.