Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War is a real-time strategy game set between Episode III and IV, in which the player commands either the Empire or the Rebel Alliance in the fight for control of the galaxy. The game links a strategic galaxy map, on which fleets move, expeditions are planned, and trade and military alliances are formed with neutral systems, with tactical battles on planetary surfaces and directly in the space above them. It also includes base building, technology research, and command of iconic units and heroes such as Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Mon Mothma, or ships like the Star Destroyer and Mon Calamari cruiser.

Empire at War was released exclusively for PC and was built on the Petroglyph engine, developed by a studio founded by former members of Westwood Studios — the creators of the classic Command & Conquer games. This shows in the pace and the emphasis on clearly managing multiple fronts at once, micromanaging individual ships in battle, and a smooth transition between the galactic map and the tactical view of a specific engagement. Thanks to this, the game earned a reputation as one of the best strategy games set in the Star Wars universe.

Its popularity was further boosted by the expansion Forces of Corruption, which added a third, neutral faction led by the pirate and crime boss Tyber Zann, expanded the range of underhanded tactics such as bribing planetary governments, sabotaging enemy infrastructure, and smuggling, and introduced new units including the giant artillery vessel Eclipse. An active modding community continues to expand the game today with total conversions covering practically the entire span of the Star Wars universe's history.

Why play: Empire at War will appeal to strategy game fans who want to feel the weight of a galactic conflict — decisions about where to send a fleet and which alliance to form carry just as much importance here as leading the battle itself, and the campaign offers dozens of hours of play for both sides of the conflict, as well as in its mods.