STAR WARS™ Rebellion

About

"Star Wars: Rebellion" is a strategy game that allows you to control either the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire in a battle for galactic domination. With up to 200 worlds to vie for and various means of achieving victory, players must manage resources and choose their strategies wisely in a real-time environment. Comprehensive resource management and a variety of tactics add to the epic scale of this game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,560 reviews

graphics50 positive mentions

stability38 negative mentions

Deep strategic gameplay that allows players to control the Rebel Alliance or Galactic Empire, with a rich lore from the Star Wars universe.
High replayability with randomized maps and multiple paths to victory, making each playthrough unique.
Nostalgic value for fans of the original trilogy and the expanded universe, with familiar characters and ships.

Outdated graphics and user interface that can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to learn.
Frequent crashes, especially during space battles, with no autosave feature leading to potential loss of progress.
AI is often passive and can be easily outmaneuvered, reducing the challenge for experienced players.

graphics
306 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
69%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and buggy, reflecting its age as a title from the late 90s. Many players express a desire for a graphical overhaul, noting that while the visuals detract from the experience, the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the game's strategic depth and nostalgic value continue to resonate with fans, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize gameplay over aesthetics.
- “While graphics are dated, the game's iconic Star Wars sound and music enhance immersion.”
- “Despite its age, this is a really intricate and complicated game with actually fairly decent graphics for the time.”
- “The graphics are dated, especially in the combat arena, but let's face it: you don't play a game this old for the graphics.”
- “The graphics are very old but the strategy layout is good.”
- “It desperately needs a patch to fix graphical glitches and the ability to play the game in its original aspect ratio in windowed mode.”
gameplay
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
80%
3%
The gameplay of this game is praised for its depth and strategic complexity, offering a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic 90s RTS titles. While the graphics and user interface are notably outdated, the mechanics remain engaging, providing a satisfying blend of tactical space combat and resource management. Players appreciate the rich lore and variety of gameplay scenarios, though some find the learning curve steep and the repetitive nature of certain tasks a drawback.
- “Yes, the graphics are dated and the UI is old, but the gameplay is nothing short of stellar!”
- “The gameplay holds up very well, even after almost 20 years.”
- “The glory in this game comes from the nature of the gameplay; you are basically free to do as you please, building a simple combination of mines and refineries to give you resource points which are then spent on fleets of Super Star Destroyers, backed up with a dozen Imperial IIs, smashing the pitiful Rebel fleet.”
- “Overall, this game is a great pairing to Empire at War, but I will warn you, its gameplay is extremely archaic; the menus are very mouse-oriented and it's easy to get carpal tunnel from even a few hours of gameplay.”
- “Gameplay can be quite repetitive: subjugate system, quell resistance, use diplomacy to sway system over to your side, repeat whilst you send off other heroes to sabotage enemy production and keep them off balance.”
- “But I wouldn't say it is for everyone, as the gameplay can be seen as quite tedious for a video game standard - you deal with static images and pop-up notifications most of the time.”
story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
87%
4%
The game's story is deeply rooted in the Star Wars universe, featuring familiar characters and events that enhance the gameplay experience. Players engage in a variety of missions, including espionage and sabotage, which allow them to influence the galaxy's political landscape while managing resources and troop movements. Despite some criticisms regarding the user interface and balance, the game successfully captures the essence of Star Wars lore, making it a nostalgic and engaging strategy experience for fans.
- “So much of the Star Wars storyline is captured in this game, including characters.”
- “Interwoven with the unfolding gameplay are familiar events from the Star Wars storyline, including the evacuation of the rebel base on Yavin, Luke Skywalker commencing his Jedi training with Yoda, the pursuit of Han Solo by bounty hunters, and the final confrontation with the Emperor.”
- “The game is very much tied in with the story and lore of Star Wars.”
- “Sending heroes and units off on missions feels hit and miss - either they'll succeed or they won't and there's not much you can do about it.”
- “On the other hand, rebellion has a crappy UI, and is noticeably poorly balanced (some planetary bombardments, and rescue or sabotage missions often end up annoyingly ineffective humanitarian disasters).”
- “While it is outdated and has poor UI and graphics, they have never recaptured the loyalty portion and covert missions nearly as well in later titles.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches, particularly on modern hardware. While some players have managed to enjoy the game without issues, many others find it unplayably buggy, indicating a pressing need for patches and compatibility improvements. Overall, the experience can be inconsistent, with significant frustration stemming from technical problems.
- “This was a great game once but this product is a buggy mess.”
- “It freezes on the intro screen and won't get past it.”
- “Just unplayably buggy right now, or at least this Steam release is.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The music in the game, primarily composed by John Williams, is widely praised for enhancing immersion and evoking nostalgia, despite some criticism regarding its volume and limited variety. While the graphics may feel outdated, the iconic Star Wars soundtrack remains a highlight, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. However, some players express a desire for a broader selection of music to enrich the experience further.
- “While graphics are dated, the game's iconic Star Wars sound and music enhance immersion.”
- “The amazing soundtrack and awesome gameplay are some of the reasons this game is pretty awesome.”
- “The graphics look positively ancient these days, but when you're building your own factory worlds, naming your own capital ships and listening to the soothing soundtrack of the original trilogy, it's still easy to get sucked into this game.”
- “The music is a touch loud and the graphics for ships when you take command of a battle are terrible.”
- “Not much divergence in music.”
- “The 'meh': needs a wider selection of music.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and time-consuming, requiring significant micro-management that may not appeal to all players, particularly newer Star Wars fans. While some players find the grind rewarding and return to the game despite its challenges, others feel it detracts from the overall experience due to awkward controls and repetitive tasks. Ultimately, the game offers a unique sandbox experience, but its grinding nature can be a barrier for many.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not really for everyone because it's a tedious strategy game with a lot of micromanaging.”
- “But I wouldn't say it is for everyone, as the gameplay can be seen as quite tedious for a video game standard - you deal with static images and pop-up notifications most of the time.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with many users highlighting its ability to provide endless hours of fun despite its dated graphics and buggy mechanics. Fans appreciate the unique strategy elements and the extensive lore included, making it a classic that remains engaging for both new and returning players. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a game with significant replay value.
- “It has a great replay value, and I highly recommend it to Star Wars fans.”
- “For a few bucks, you get endless hours of fun with unlimited replayability.”
- “Look, I know it's old, and looks very old by today's standards, but this game has more replayability than virtually any game since.”
- “It's a unique strategy game - unlike anything I'd ever played when it came out, but still holds tremendous replay value.”
- “In addition to everything else this game has to offer in terms of gameplay and replayability, the game also comes complete with an encyclopedia that gives a treasure trove of information about all the units, ships, planets, and characters that appear in the game, all drawn from the entire extended universe lore available at the time.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its complexity and nostalgic value, but it suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on modern hardware. Players report performance problems and subpar ship textures, indicating that additional effort may be required to run the game smoothly.
- “A long time ago I played the pre-Steam version of it a lot, and I can say still today it's the most amazing Star Wars strategy game ever for me. It's definitely more complex than EAW, but fails really hard in being optimized by today's standards.”
- “They really need to fix performance issues and get the ship textures correct.”
- “- Little optimization for modern hardware - you may need to do some work to get it to run on your machine.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong criticism of character development, suggesting that modern studios prioritize superficial elements over authentic growth and depth in characters. There is a sentiment that current trends focus on adhering to quotas and flashy aesthetics rather than fostering meaningful narratives.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many users noting that it captures the essence of the original Star Wars films, contributing to its addictive gameplay. Reviewers consistently regard it as the best Star Wars game ever made, highlighting its immersive and engaging environment.
- “Simply the best Star Wars game ever made. A 4X game at its best, very addictive, and has all the atmosphere of the original Star Wars films. Can't fault it; I've been playing this since it was first released in '98.”