Z is a real-time strategy game where you fight for control of the sectors. Some sectors contain manufactories that can gain you additional units. Touching the "flag" in a sector makes it yours. Capturing a sector before a new unit comes out of a manufactory means the new unit is yours. With six different robots, multiple vehicles (from jeeps to tanks), and various armaments, armor, and speed options, your ultimate objective is to destroy the opponent's base and prevent them from doing the same.
The game differs from other RTSs by emphasizing territorial control and manufactories over getting kills and gathering a large army. You must finely balance defense and offense. If you wait too long, the enemy will grab all the manufactories first. If you go too fast, you'll get hammered for stretching yourself too thin. You can hijack enemy vehicles by shooting the driver off. You don't need to micromanage each soldier, as some will automatically take a vehicle if they find one.