Nova was first released for the Apple Macintosh in March, 2002. Work on a Windows version began in June 2002, and it was released in July 2003.
The basic concept of the game is in many ways similar to Elite and Freelancer. The game is an RPG set in the future. The player pilots a spaceship, landing on planets, fighting pirates, completing missions, trading goods, and so on. However, unlike Elite and Freelancer, the actual gameplay takes place in a 2D (top down) view.
The game has six major storylines that the player can enter, ranging from a rebel against the corrupt Federation, to a warrior for the noble Auroran Empire.