The Star Wars universe has always evolved in all directions – George Lucas’s genius was not only in creating a captivating blockbuster, but also in its successful commercialization. Therefore, in addition to toys, books, branded paraphernalia and other things, with the development of Star Wars technology, video games began to appear.
We have collected the top ten – they are memorable for something and are valuable even apart from the nine episodes of the cult saga. Excellent RPGs, lively action games, online fun and shooters – there are enough good ones on “Star Wars”.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- Release date: April 2, 2005
- Platforms: PS2, Game Boy Advance, Xbox, Nintendo DS
We are sure that all readers are familiar with the phenomenon of “games based on the movie”, which accompanied all major Hollywood releases in the 2000s. Back then, games were made as an add-on to a movie ticket, which could not help but affect the quality, but there were exceptions.
The game based on the third episode of Star Wars is most similar not to the similar one based on the first, but to the slasher duology based on The Lord of the Rings from Electronic Arts. The same meticulous recreation of the events from the film, the appearance of the characters, a similar combat system, level construction and camera.
Players played through the entire third film as Anakin and Obi-Wan, with the famously intense finale. It’s much more enjoyable to enjoy the combat, which allows you to not only swing a sword but also use the Force, together with a friend in co-op, and additional incentives are provided by the materials that are unlocked as you progress. For example, a fighting mode where Count Dooku and Darth Vader can meet in battle, as well as small but funny alternative scenarios in which Anakin defeats Obi-Wan on Mustafar or Obi-Wan kills Darth Vader on the Death Star.
At the time, the game gained points because it came out more than a month before the film’s release, and fans bought it just to get a rough idea of what would happen in the movie from the frames and dialogues. That’s some marketing!
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005)
- Release date: October 31, 2005
- Platforms: PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox
Another game dedicated to Episode III. This is a variation on the Battlefield theme, but in the Star Wars setting, where not only clones or rebels, but also Gungans and Jedi can end up on the battlefield.
Actually, the main difference between Battlefront 2 and the original was that we were given the opportunity to play as them. But in general, the main part of the innovations lay in the quantitative plane: more planets, more eras, more types of troops that you can play as (for Gungans and Jedi!) and so on.
The campaign mode acquired a story about the 501st Clone Legion and became a full-fledged part of the then canon, the galactic battle mode began to slightly resemble a global strategy and acquired a larger scale, and the ability to play as heroes slightly broke the balance, but was fun.
Star Wars: Republic Commando
- Release date: February 28, 2005
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
And yet another game released next to the premiere of “Revenge of the Sith”! However, this project is already a serious competitor in the hearts of gamers for the title of the most favored in the franchise.
This is because it is the only tactical shooter on Star Wars. It was originally made for the original Xbox, and the tactical element in it is not very deep, but this does not prevent you from giving orders to your subordinates, which is vital in many moments of the game.
LEGO Star Wars Series
There’s not just one in this category, but four at once – because it’s simply impossible to choose just one, and they’re not that different. They’re enjoyable action platformers in which one or two players smash LEGO things in LEGO levels, shoot LEGO enemies, LEGO jump, and LEGO solve very simple LEGO puzzles.
Despite this, the original LEGO Star Wars was not only a breakthrough for Star Wars games, but also for LEGO – it was the first highly successful computer project about the Danish construction set.
The second part consolidated its success, introducing even more characters, and also significantly improving the level design. If the first game was dedicated to the prequel trilogy, and the second to the original (later a re-release of The Complete Saga with six episodes will be released), then the third part was made into an interactive version of the first seasons of the animated series “Clone Wars”.
And the recent The Skywalker Saga completely rethought the approach to LEGO games in general, although it wasn’t without its shortcomings
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Release date: September 16, 2008
- Platforms: PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, Switch
Probably the most famous Star Wars game of its time, it was supposed to be a “stopgap” between the third and fourth episodes of the saga. The plot told about Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, who was wandering around the Galaxy and exterminating the remaining Jedi.
The value of this story was given by the fact that George Lucas himself worked on it. Even the way the main character holds the sword with the light blade backwards added charisma to the events!
Also, additional hype before the release was generated by the incredible graphics and physics system of Euphoria from GTA 4. The need for it was justified by the ability of the main character to throw everything around with the help of the Force, including his opponents.
Despite the graphics that were truly impressive for the time and the interesting plot, the game had a number of problems – suffice it to say about the corridor levels, the monotonous combat, the sword-club and the terrible scene with the Star Destroyer, which the main character drops on the planet, making his way through the monstrous controls.
It is also impossible not to mention the “junior” versions for the then past-gen, which were distinguished by additional content – a fighting mode, the ability to control movements on the Wii, as now on the Switch, as well as additional scenarios, where the main character took the place of Darth Vader and seemed to participate in the events of episodes 4-6.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Release date: December 20, 2011
- Platforms: PC
At one time, Star Wars: The Old Republic had to fulfill two ambitious tasks at once: to continue the legendary Knights of the Old Republic and to become the first story-driven MMORPG, not inferior in quality of production to Mass Effect. The game fulfilled both tasks with relative success, but still, it rather worked out.
The action takes place some time after the finale of KotOR 2. The galaxy is once again plunged into chaos, and it can be saved by… one of eight characters with their own storyline! The four hero classes are multiplied by two, since there are two sides involved in the conflict (Light and Dark, obviously), and each will have their own unique storyline.
Despite the partial transition to the F2P model, the game still continues to actively develop and receive add-ons, remaining an interesting hybrid of traditional and online RPG. Moreover, over time, BioWare was really able to find a happy medium. In 2022, The Old Republic is more beautiful than ever.
Star Wars: Empire at War
- Release date: February 16, 2006
- Platforms: PC
Unlike action games and RPGs, there are only a few Star Wars strategies, and that’s why each one is especially valuable. Empire at War is also a good RTS overall and may be interesting not only to fans of the universe.
This is an absolutely classic real-time strategy from the mid-2000s – you recruit units and lead them into an attack, but instead of World War II or another common setting, you have AT-ATs, Darth Vader and Imperial stormtroopers. There are space battles, but unlike Homeworld, they take place on one plane, not in three-dimensional space.
Of particular interest is the Forces of Corruption add-on, which tells the story of the Black Sun crime syndicate. The original’s main campaign was simply a series of battles between the Empire and the rebels, but here it’s practically the personal story of the head of the criminals, Tyber Zann. He stands out in particular because he can bribe any troops. The plot is dedicated to his path through the Galaxy after Episode VI, he even manages to visit a droid factory from the Clone Wars, but all this is no longer important – the story is obviously non-canonical, although still funny.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Release date: November 11, 2019
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
The most recent game on our list, this one has been an unexpected success for EA. Like The Force Unleashed, it takes place between Episodes III and IV. It all starts with the same Jedi extermination.
The main character, Cal Castis, hides on the planet and pretends to be an ordinary scavenger, although in fact he is a Padawan who did not manage to complete his training. At one point, he has to go on a journey across the Galaxy to escape the sinister Inquisition.
The gameplay of Fallen Order is surprisingly similar not to a linear story-driven action game, but to Dark Souls. The possibilities at the levels open up gradually, along with the main character receiving new abilities. Also, the combat system, tied to focusing on the enemy, in case of failure throws you back to the local analogue of the “bonfire”.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Release date: November 19, 2003
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
The main role-playing game based on Star Wars, which is remembered even 20 years after its release. The setting turned out to be unusual – the action takes place four thousand years before the films, although this has a specific effect on the development of the Galaxy. Light swords, iron droids, ships fly, and the Sith fight the Jedi – in general, all the basics are in place, it’s just that there is still a lot of time before the well-known events.
The protagonist finds himself on a half-destroyed Republic ship, with no memory of himself. Fighting off attacks from Sith troops, he escapes and begins his journey, trying to remember his identity and prevent Darth Malak from taking possession of a powerful ancient weapon that could turn the tide of the war.
KotOR left a big mark on both the genre and BioWare’s work in particular – after it, the idea of Mass Effect with its focus on cinematography was born. After that, the studio will begin to move further and further in this direction.
We can’t forget about the sequel, which came out a couple of years later and turned out to be much darker than the original. Although the galactic war ended there, the Dark Side continues to operate, and the main character faces much more cunning plans of the Sith.
The first Knights of the Old Republic is currently being remade by Aspyr, with many BioWare veterans involved. It would be nice to dive into the game in a year’s time, on the original’s 20th anniversary.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
- Release date: September 17, 2003
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch
2003 was an unusually good year for Star Wars. Jedi Academy continues the plot of Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, which, in turn, traces its lineage back to the first Star Wars shooters. The action takes place after Episode VI, and the main character is the padawan of the new Jedi Academy, Luke Skywalker, who encounters an unusual manifestation of the Dark Side.
The plot will carefully take you through all the iconic places of the original trilogy, starting with Yavin-4 with the new Academy and ending with Hoth and Tatooine, where the player will visit the same places as in the film. Unlike The Force Unleashed, “Academy” pleases with the realistic reaction of opponents to the lightsaber, which has a positive effect on both the chopping of stormtroopers and battles with other Jedi and Sith.
But frankly speaking, everyone loves the Academy not for the plot. The gameplay is at the heart of it all, which is why multiplayer servers are still alive and even popular. Several types of lightsabers, a bunch of Force abilities and firearms – this explosive cocktail, coupled with the fast character movement from Quake 3 (the game uses the same engine), made online battles reactive and exciting.
The PS4 and Switch release in 2020 makes it even easier to try the game, and on PC, no re-releases are required – fans have been playing it non-stop for almost 20 years now.