STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack Review Summary

The best Star Wars RTS with fun, solid gameplay and exceptional mods, though space battles outshine ground combat, the aged base game has a steep learning curve.

Exceptional mods enhance gameplay: Mods are highly praised for greatly improving the game, making it twice as fun, and offering endless possibilities. Many consider mods the best part of the game.

Best Star Wars RTS: Reviewers widely regard this as the best Star Wars real-time strategy game, often calling it the best since Galactic Battlegrounds and the most accessible in the genre.

Fun and solid base game: The base game is repeatedly described as fun, well-made, and offering tons of excellent content even without mods. It is enjoyable and balanced on its own.

One of best Star Wars games: Many consider it among the greatest Star Wars games ever made, praising its strategy and lore. It is a gold standard for Star Wars gaming.

Very good game overall: General sentiment is that the game is very good, fantastic, and one of the best games ever played. Gameplay is excellent and enjoyable.

Ground battles weaker than space: Multiple reviewers consistently state that ground battles are the weakest part of the game compared to the highly praised space battles. This contrast is frequently highlighted as a major shortcoming.

Base game shows its age: Reviewers frequently mention that the base game is old and dated, with many noting that its age is visible in various aspects. This is a common criticism across multiple clusters.

Base game is clunky and flawed: The base game is described as clunky and flawed, with unspecified problems that detract from the experience. Some reviewers go as far as to say it is awful or not worth playing compared to mods.

Mods cause bugs and crashes: Several reviewers report encountering bugs and crashes, particularly when using mods. These issues range from annoying but minor to game-breaking crashes after long play sessions.

Steep learning curve: New players often struggle to understand how to play the game properly, finding it hard to grasp the mechanics at the beginning. This suggests a lack of clear onboarding or tutorials.

Extensive mod support via Workshop: The game supports mods through Steam Workshop, and it has a strong modding community. This allows players to easily discover, subscribe to, and download a wide variety of mods.

Star Wars real-time strategy game: It is a real-time strategy game set in the Star Wars universe, featuring massive battles and strategic gameplay. The game includes campaigns with many Star Wars characters and factions.

Dual ground and space battles: The game features both ground and space battles, offering distinct combat experiences in two theaters. Players can engage in real-time tactical battles on planet surfaces and in open space.

Galactic Conquest strategic mode: The game includes a Galactic Conquest mode where players manage planets, fleets, and economy on a galactic scale. It offers a strategic layer alongside tactical battles.

Notable mods like Thrawn's Revenge: The game supports popular mods such as Thrawn's Revenge and Awakening of the Rebellion, which add new factions, scenarios, and gameplay elements. These mods are frequently cited by players.

Runs well on low-end PCs.: Many users report the game runs smoothly on old or low-end hardware, including 'potato' laptops. Vanilla games can run on pretty much any PC with ease due to their age.

Crashes and stability issues.: Players experience frequent crashes, especially in the first game, after long sessions, or when using mods. Some crashes occur during massive battles or when overloading the game with units.

PC requirements are low.: The game's PC requirements are potato-level, making it accessible to a wide range of systems. It runs fast unless battles are overly large.

Lag in large battles.: The game can get laggy during massive battles with many small ships, even on high graphics settings. Limiting ships per battle helps mitigate lag.

Minor bugs and issues.: There are minor bugs and occasional crashes, but overall the game is stable. Some users report no constant lagging on lower end PCs when using mods.

Ideal for Star Wars RTS fans: Many reviewers highly recommend the game for anyone who enjoys both the Star Wars universe and real-time strategy games. It is considered a must-have for fans of either or both.

Mods greatly enhance experience: A large number of players emphasize that mods, especially total conversions like Thrawn's Revenge and Fall of the Republic, significantly improve the game and are a major reason to buy it. Some even say the game is only worth it with mods.

Good for Star Wars lore fans: Reviewers note that the game appeals strongly to those deeply invested in Star Wars lore, even if they are not typically RTS players. It is a must-play for Star Wars enthusiasts.

Specific mods recommended: Players frequently recommend specific mods such as Thrawn's Revenge, Fall of the Republic, Awakening of the Rebellion, and Republic at War. These mods add significant content and are often cited as essential.

Recommended for strategy fans: The game is frequently recommended to fans of strategy games in general, including those who enjoy grand strategy and classic RTS titles. It is seen as a solid entry point for the genre.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $20.00.

Session length: 11.0h.

Endgame: 300.0h.

Empire at War is most strongly described as fun from the start, with direct reports of immediately fun battles and enjoyment within minutes, including the first hour of modded content. Some players report an early RTS-knowledge hurdle or boredom, but the dominant direct evidence supports 'fun immediately'.

Friction: Prior RTS knowledge or quick thinking may be needed to avoid feeling overwhelmed at first.; Ground combat can feel dated, repetitive, and clunky, including slow chasing of last units.; Without mods, base-game visuals and UI look distinctly like a 2006 game.; Modded content may require tweaking for stable framerates or suffer from bugs and poor battle clarity.; Some players report multiplayer sync errors.; A negative review reports the game feels too boring after a few hours..

Unlock drivers: Playing mods such as Thrawn's Revenge, Republic at War, or Empire at War Remake.; Official updates and patches restored multiplayer, added 64-bit support, and improved modding.; Practicing in skirmishes, small conquest maps, or Galactic Conquest before campaigns.; Using easy or medium difficulty as the Empire to learn the AI's tricks.; Tweaking mod settings to stabilize framerates before playing modded content.; Playing with friends in multiplayer..

Mod-Driven Galactic Veteran: Installs Steam Workshop mods, plays overhaul campaigns, and jumps between base game and total-conversion mods. Motivation: To extend and modernize a beloved classic through community-made overhauls. Stance: buy.

Star Wars Lore Immersionist: Plays campaigns and Galactic Conquest with attention to lore, often restricting units to match the setting. Motivation: To command iconic Star Wars ships, heroes, and factions in a lore-faithful setting. Stance: buy.

Traditional RTS Strategist: Plays land battles like a classic RTS, experiments with unique space engagements, and uses skirmish or multiplayer modes. Motivation: To enjoy large-scale real-time strategy battles and strategic campaign management. Stance: buy.

Across the Windows VRAM cohorts, the game is generally playable and recommended, though some users report lag, crashes, or performance that needs optimization. The lowest-VRAM cohort is mostly positive, one mid-range cohort is split, and the higher-VRAM cohorts are positive with isolated performance caveats.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Most users recommend it and report smooth performance even on low-end PCs, with a few mentions of lag or crashes.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: mixed. Reviews are split: one reports great performance after patches, while another cites frequent crashes.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. The included recommended review reports 40 FPS at 4K on a high-end PC and does not mention major instability.

Steam Deck: The base game is repeatedly reported to run well on Steam Deck and Linux, with direct recommendations for Deck play. The main friction comes from using Proton Experimental on Linux and from incompatibility with graphically intensive mods such as Thrawn's Revenge. General stability glitches, a 30fps complaint, and a dated UI are also present, but they do not indicate a broken or unlaunchable Steam Deck experience. Because Proton Experimental use is required for at least one reported Linux setup, the scoring criteria place friction at 40 or above.

Linux and Proton: The audit found only positive Linux/Proton compatibility evidence. One user reports the game runs flawlessly on Linux Mint 22.3 with Proton Experimental, and another states it runs remarkably well on the Steam Deck. Other reviews contain generic complaints or an in-game reference to proton torpedo launchers, not the Proton compatibility layer. No Linux-specific launch, performance, anti-cheat, DRM, or stability blockers were reported.

Monetization: Reviews explicitly mention no microtransactions.

Active modding community: A large, dedicated, and active modding community keeps the game alive by creating and updating mods. The community is welcoming and continually produces new content.

Extensive mod support: The game has strong modding capabilities and supports Steam Workshop, allowing for easy installation and a constant flow of new mods. This is a major part of the game's appeal.

Game is 20 years old: The game is around 20 years old, but it has aged well and still receives updates. Its longevity is often noted by reviewers.

Mods keep game alive: Mods are widely credited with keeping the game relevant and alive long after its release. The modding community's efforts have extended the game's lifespan.

Forces of Corruption expansion: The Forces of Corruption expansion is included in some versions of the game, adding new units and a new faction. It is a notable part of the game's content.