One Small Step challenges players to lead the US and USSR Space Agencies in an engine-building, worker-placement "race to the moon" Eurogame for two teams of 1-2 players each.

Teammates coordinate their use of Engineer and Administrator workers to gather resources, draft cards, boost media coverage, recruit astronauts, expand space flight capability, and launch Missions into space. The first team to land a Crewed Mission on the Moon gains a bonus, and ends the game. Team with the most Victory Points wins.