Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War is a strategy game developed by Petroglyph Games and published by LucasArts in 2006. The game is set between Episode III and Episode IV. In it the player takes command of either the Imperial or Rebel forces. An additional faction, the Zann Consortium was added only 8 months after the release of the main game, in the expansion pack: Forces of Corruption.

The game includes 3 game modes: a story based campaign, a Risk like Galactic Conquest and Skrimish.

In the campaign the player follows a more or less linear path, which ends at the Battle of Yavin. Although the story plays in the Galactic Conquest, the map isn't entirely open for the player. For that some scripted events and mission have to be be completed.

Where can I get it?
Nowadays, you can get the gold edtion from GOG or Steam. It is recommended to buy the Steam version, since it's got the multiplayer update and a better mod support.

Multiplayer after 2014?
The first few year after the Gamespy shutdown, you had to use a VPN-Client like Gameranger or Radmin. That changed with the 2018 patch for the Steam version. Now you can use the ingame multiplayer browser to host and find games.

What mods can you recommend?
As mentioned the Steam version has the better mod support, but you can download most of the mods also for the retail or GOG version of the game.
 * Awakening of the Rebellion: a try to merge EAW with the old Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Empire at War - Remake: adds new units, better graphic and a bit more gameplay
 * Republic at War: a total conversion into the Clone Wars era
 * Stargate - Pegasus Chronicles: a total conversion into the Stargate universe
 * Thrawn's Revenge: a good overhaul of gameplay and graphic set after the battle of Endor

Links

 * Star Wars: Empire at War - Forces of Corruption - Mods
 * Star Wars: Empire at War - Wiki