When enemy forces meet (either fleets in space or ground forces landing an enemy planet) a battle ensues. Each planet confers different advantages to its owner, even though some bonuses are specific to each faction (for example, controlling Kuat reduces the price of Imperial Star Destroyers by 25 percent). Credits are used to research technology, build defenses and vehicles, and train troops. The player receives funds from planets they control and from mining facilities. Grand strategy, production, and resource management are facilitated through a three-dimensional galactic map. Each faction has at least one of three broad objectives for Galactic Conquest, which vary depending on which scenario is being played: kill the enemy leader ( Mon Mothma or Emperor Palpatine), protect or destroy the Death Star, or completely remove the other faction from the campaign map. A weaker, neutral faction of Pirates exists, but makes no attempt to battle the Rebels or Empire unless attacked. Galactic Conquest is the sandbox campaign, in which the player controls either the Rebel Alliance or the Empire.

Land battles are fought with infantry and ground vehicle units, while space battles are fought with starfighter squadrons and large spacecraft. Battles can take place on a planet (land battle) or above the planet (space battle). There are three game modes: storyline-based Campaign, Galactic Conquest and Skirmish.

A screenshot presenting one of the Galactic Conquest maps (playing as the Empire).

Modern age of empires