Real-time strategy fans still talk about it.
Modders never stopped playing it.
And somehow… it’s already been 20 years.
Star Wars: Empire at War originally launched in February 2006, and it quickly became one of the most beloved Star Wars strategy games ever released. Two decades later, it still has an active player base, a thriving modding scene, and a legacy that few Star Wars games can match.
Yes — we’re officially that old.
The RTS That Let You Control the Galaxy
Developed by Petroglyph Games and published by LucasArts, Empire at War put players in command of either the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War.
Unlike most Star Wars games at the time, this wasn’t about controlling a single hero.
It was about controlling entire fleets and planetary invasions.
Players could:
- Command massive space battles
- Invade and defend planets
- Build fleets and ground armies
- Manage resources across the galaxy
- Deploy iconic heroes like Darth Vader, Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker
For many fans, it was the first time Star Wars felt like a fully interactive galactic war simulator.
Space Battles That Still Hold Up
One of the game’s most celebrated features was its space combat.
Battles took place in fully 3D environments where players could:
- Target specific ship systems
- Deploy starfighters and bombers
- Call in reinforcements mid-battle
- Use capital ships strategically
- Position fleets across large maps
Watching Star Destroyers and Mon Cal cruisers clash above planets like Hoth or Endor never really gets old — even two decades later.
Forces of Corruption and a Growing Legacy
Later in 2006, the Forces of Corruption expansion expanded the game with a third faction: the Zann Consortium. It introduced new units, mechanics, and a deeper criminal-underworld storyline that gave the game even more replay value.
But what truly kept Empire at War alive was its community.
The modding scene exploded and never really stopped.
Over the years, fans created massive overhaul mods including:
- Thrawn’s Revenge
- Republic at War
- Awakening of the Rebellion
- Fall of the Republic
Some of these mods are so large and detailed they essentially function as full new Star Wars strategy games.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
Few Star Wars games have had the staying power of Empire at War.
Even now:
- It still has an active player base on PC
- Mods continue to evolve
- New players discover it through Steam
- Fans still ask for a sequel
In an era of cinematic action games and live-service titles, Empire at War remains one of the purest strategy experiences ever set in the Star Wars universe.
And for many fans, it’s still the definitive Star Wars RTS.
20 Years Later… and Still Commanding the Galaxy
Two decades on, Star Wars: Empire at War isn’t just remembered — it’s still played.
Few Star Wars games have managed to stay relevant for this long, and fewer still have built such a dedicated strategy community around them.
If you’ve ever commanded a fleet over Coruscant or defended Hoth against an Imperial invasion…
you already know why this one still matters.
Happy 20th anniversary to one of the greatest Star Wars strategy games ever made.
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