Following the tradition of the series, this expansion maintains the setting of strategy at a world level, offered by the original Supreme Ruler 2020, and adds 20 new scenarios in single player (and a new campaign), improved unit control, expanded tech tree with new units, AI enhancements with some changes in the old scenarios. There is also some new multiplayer possibilities with some online-only scenarios. However there is no change in the gameplay.

The original game, Supreme Ruler 2020, must be installed to play the Global Crisis expansion.