This is the second of three video games based on The Empire Strikes Back for home video game systems. It was preceded by a version for the Atari 2600 and succeeded by Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the SNES.
A "port," or conversion, of this game was released for the Nintendo Game Boy. That product was reprinted and distributed by several publishers over the course of three years.
The object is to destroy an Imperial Probe Droid, escape a Wampa-infested ice cavern, fight during the Battle of Hoth, meet Master Yoda on Dagobah to train with him, and attempt to rescue your friends in Cloud City from Darth Vader. Playing as Luke Skywalker, you can fight with a blaster pistol or a lightsaber. Players can ride a tauntaun. You can also board a snowspeeder during the Battle of Hoth.
- Probots
- Wampas
- Imperial Snowtroopers
- AT-ATs
- Dagobah Swamp Creatures
As the Empire game was released towards the end of the NES's lifecycle, a corresponding game based on Return of the Jedi was never developed or released, despite being hinted at in the text at the end of the game. Super Star Wars for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released nearly one year later in 1992.