I'm updating my original thoughts. I had said at first it was a minecraft mini-game, space battle mini-game, and a shooter. However, I've played a bit more, and there are a bunch of smaller systems in the game:

* Lock picking puzzles
* Persuasion mini-game
* Career simulation
* Labor simulation
* Spaceship building mini-game
* Outpost base building mini-game
* Piracy mini-game with disabling ships, boarding ship, stealing ships, stealing cargo, handling contraband, etc

And there are probably others. So, the game becomes: how can you use these systems to build a character and experience of a Bethesda space game that fits your needs? It does feel like you have to create your own fun though. 

 @bfeac37c would you say it's ultimately pretty good at providing a canvas for creating your own fun?