Movies

It’s time for a new Star Wars strategy game

BBG News

It’s clear you’re on the same page with me. Games like “Jedi Fallen Order”, “Survivor”, and “Outlaws” offer amazing replay value, while “Outlaws” is a blast (despite some mixed opinions), and I’m excited about “Zero Company”. However, none of these quite satisfy my craving for real-time strategy games. They don’t quite match the nostalgic allure of classics like “Homeworld”, “Age of Empires”, or “StarCraft 2” that we strategy game enthusiasts can’t seem to shake off.

When was the last great Star Wars strategy game?

Nearly two decades have passed since the release of “Empire at War,” yet it continues to thrive, particularly within the modding community. In fact, a recent update was released as late as November 2023! Interestingly, it managed an average of 2,367 daily players on Steam in June, with a peak of 4,124. While that may not seem like much, it’s significant considering only “Battlefront II,” “Star Wars: The Old Republic,” and the latest release, “Jedi: Survivor” had more players on Steam. Notably, “Empire at War” nearly reached half the number of players as “The Old Republic.

That’s crazy for a game that’s almost 20 years old and still looks like this:

Prior to these, there were some releases: “Galactic Battlegrounds” in 2001, “Force Commander” in 2000, and “Rebellion” in 1998. The last one holds a special place for me despite its not-so-attractive appearance, much like a Hutt adorning a gold bikini.

Beyond just missing out on high-quality Star Wars strategy games, there seems to be a scarcity of top-notch space strategy games available in the market as well. Frankly, I can’t wrap my head around this phenomenon.

In my experience, strategy games, particularly real-time ones, have consistently held a special place among gaming enthusiasts. Occasionally, as a gamer, I find myself yearning for more than just guiding characters like Luke Skywalker or Cal Kestis, or even a lone gunslinger from distant galaxies. Instead, I crave the opportunity to command entire Star Destroyer fleets, swarms of TIE Fighters, and unleash the destructive power of my very own Death Star upon planets.

It’s now over fifteen years since the last “Star Wars” strategy game in 2006. Meanwhile, Ensemble Studios have refreshed their timeless title, “Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition”, and unveiled “Age of Empires IV”. The “Crusader Kings” series has seen two more sequels, with the third one already considered a classic due to its addictive nature. Similarly, there have been releases for “Sid Meier’s Civilization 5, 6, & 7”!

Have you observed that there aren’t many space strategy games in the mix? Yes, we’ve seen titles such as Sins of a Solar Empire, Stellaris, and Distant Worlds 1 & 2. Homeworld also attempted another installment, which received a somewhat negative response on Steam (with an “Mostly Negative” rating).

The potential for a real-time strategy (RTS) game set in the “Star Wars” universe is immense! With its vast array of imaginative spacecraft, epic space battles, and numerous playable factions such as the Mandalorians against the High Republic, the Sith versus the Rebellion, or even the First Order battling the Empire, the possibilities are endless. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to witness the destruction of Starkiller Base by the Death Star?

Alright. If you don’t provide what the crowd is asking for, I’ll simply seek a modification for Empire at War and handle it on my own.

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2025-07-19 21:57

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