STAR WARS™ Rebellion

This game brings me back. It's easily moddable for more fun and is a great game! There is a lot of waiting sometimes, but best star wars strategy game I've encountered.

The game is essentially a Star Wars 4X game. It does fulfill all Xs in 4X: you start with a few planets, you can expand your control either through diplomacy or force ; you exploit those planets to get the resources and infrastructure to build up your forces ; you explore the Outer Rim planets to either colonize or find enemy hideouts ; and of course, you exterminate your enemy (it is the victory condition). You either get to play as the commander of the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire and you seek to destroy the other side. The game starts at the end of A New Hope, the Death Star has been destroyed, the Empire is poised to strike back at the Rebellion. As the Rebellion, some planets have joined your cause, you will build up your forces in hiding (or not) and attempt to topple the Empire by liberating the Imperial Capital Coruscant and capturing Darth Vader and the Emperor just make sure your mobile base doesn't get destroyed in the meantime. As the Empire, you will want to find and destroy the secret rebel base, and capture the leader of the Rebellion Mon Mothma, and the soon to be Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. In order to achieve your objectives, you start with a few planets, fleets, armies and most interestingly characters. You move large amount of troops, fleets, and try to secure alliances. This game is very character driven, actions including spying, research, sabotage, even exploration relies on these character units, which could be the iconic ones we see in the original movies, or from the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now known as Legends). However they come in a limited pool, and some can actually die. Properly using your heroes is one important aspect of the game that differentiate it from other games in the genre. The space battles can be big and epic but the UI and visuals are dated (even for the time). It has a bit of a learning curve. The game overall is unique and one of my favorite.

Best game ever made. Grand Strategy lets you create the ultimate Rebel or Imperial Fleets, custom name each ship, and put the iconic heroes and villains in charge of them. Then simulate galactic conquest in this alternate timeline starting after the Battle of Yavin that you control. Basic economic system allows you to create mines and refineries which create raw and refined aggregated resources so that you can build up your production infrastructure as well as units and machines to fight in the civil war. Planning production infrastructure to build up planetary defensive structures, as well as troop training and starship production. Special missions to spy, sabotage, scout, kidnap, assassinate, initiate diplomacy, incite uprisings, Jedi train, or recruit more heroic characters. Guide Luke on his path to learning the force, or ensure Vader can capture him before Skywalker can become a Jedi. A popular support system that encourages players to think of the sentients of the galaxy, either to harbor their ill will to oppose the enemy, or to keep enough troops to crush their rebellious tendencies. Blast troops, or production facilities from orbit with planetary bombardments. Build the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Death Stars and Obliterate entire worlds. Or command the starfighter runs to stop them. This game really has it all for a Star Wars nerd like me. Despite it's age, it holds up if you know where to look, and the Rebellion Editor has allowed me to breathe new life into the game by modifying the ship stats , character skills, and even which troops are possible to build to make the game better reflect the galaxy I know and love so well. I hope you'll give this one a try and give yourself some time to overcome the learning curve because I have found the reward is worth it.

Build multiple Death Stars. Destroy every planet until you find the Rebel HQ. The galaxy hates you, every planet supports the Rebel Alliance but you have troops everywhere to prevent rebellions. Enjoy ruling with an iron fist. I was 13 at the time, great game.

I LOVE this game. It gets horrible reviews but I think it's an absolute diamond in the rough. I played it way back when and then more recently got a copy that took some Jerry rigging to get going. I'm going to buy this legit copy. Rebellion is really what Great Old Games is all about.