Star Wars: Empire at War

Galactic Command and Core Gameplay Loop

The primary gameplay loop focuses on large-scale strategic management combined with direct tactical control. Players engage in campaigns where every decision made on the galactic map directly influences subsequent battles. Unlike some traditional RTS titles, resource gathering is largely abstracted, allowing players to jump straight into the heart of military action and strategic deployment across the galaxy.

The command structure is divided across three integrated theaters of war:

• Ground Combat: Commanding infantry, armored vehicles, and specialized units in tactical skirmishes across various planetary surfaces.
• Space Combat: Orchestrating fleet movements, positioning starfighters, and engaging in large-scale ship-to-ship battles in orbit around contested worlds.
• Galactic Conquest: Managing the overall map, deploying forces, establishing economic control, and initiating invasions or defensive maneuvers across multiple star systems.

What makes this game unique in the RTS genre?

The defining feature is the seamless integration of these three layers of combat. A player's strategic choices on the galaxy map—such as blockading a planet or launching a ground invasion—translate directly into the tactical battles that follow. This creates a persistent strategic layer where long-term planning is crucial. Furthermore, the atmosphere captures the epic scale of the conflict, allowing players to experience moments ranging from small infiltration missions to commanding the deployment of the Death Star.

Current State and Available Content

As a main title, the core experience remains focused on the strategic RTS mechanics established at launch. The game has received one major expansion pack, which adds further depth and content to the core strategic and tactical gameplay systems available to both factions. The game is available on PC (Microsoft Windows) and Mac platforms.

Setting and Allegiance

The game immerses players in the turbulent era of the Galactic Civil War. Players choose their allegiance—the oppressive might of the Empire or the determined efforts of the Rebellion—and experience the conflict from that faction's perspective, shaping the historical narrative through military success or failure across the galaxy.