Star Wars is an extremely rich universe with so many key aspects. It is only natural then that there’s like a ton of video games set in the universe, each different. We wanted to make navigating this much easier, so we’ve prepared a list of what we consider the best stuff for Star Wars fans who happen to be avid gamers.
Some of these will let you pilot X-Wings and TIE Fighters. Others will make your dream come true and you will be able to wield a lightsaber like a true Jedi Master. There are also plenty of epic stories rivaling the scope of the Skywalker Saga.
There are just so many games to pick from! We’ve selected only ten titles, but remember that there are many other worthwhile productions set in the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
| Release date: | 2003-09-16 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Vicarious Visions |
Star Wars’ own Chuck Norris, Kyle Katarn proves that you can be both a Master Jedi and a master gunslinger.
The legend returns in Jedi Outcast, this time as a mercenary employed by Mon Mothma and the New Republic. During one of the missions, Kyle and Jan Ors, his long-time partner and love interest, uncover a new plot that poses a threat to the galaxy…
The first couple of missions are a standard blaster-only fare, just like the first Dark Forces game and the first couple of levels in Jedi Knight. After all, Kyle cut himself off from the Force after his brush with the Dark Side. He will have to regain his powers later on, as well as learn to wield the lightsaber once again.
And what a majestic weapon this is! Jedi Outcast and its sequel, Jedi Academy, are quite possibly the best lightsaber simulators to this day. Nothing ever came close, not even The Force Unleashed or Jedi: Fallen Order. Three different combat stances, a multitude of moves and the ability to dismember your opponents is something unique among Star Wars games. Add excellent level design and a super fun multiplayer mode, complete with mod support, to the mix and you’ll get one of the best SW games ever, period.
And once you’re done with Jedi Outcast, be sure to pick up Jedi Academy next, as it will let you dual-wield lightsabers and fight using the famous lightstaff.
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Star Wars: TIE Fighter
| Release date: | 1994-07-01 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
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Star Wars also has a long-standing series of fantastic space sims released in the 90s. Starting with 1993’s X-Wing, it soon let the fans of the Galactic Empire fulfill their dreams and serve the Emperor in the Imperial Navy as a TIE Fighter pilot.
Just like the X-Wing game, this ain’t no arcade stuff like Rogue Squadron and the like. It’s a complex sim where you need to take into account the characteristics of your starfighter, as well as balance power allocation between your armament, engines, shields (which many of the ships you’ll get to fly here don’t even have), and beam weapons (if available). This is necessary if you want to complete a wide variety of missions that await you during the campaign (training scenarios and single missions are also available here).
The Special Edition of the game features both DOS and Windows versions of TIE Fighter and the Defenders of the Empire expansion, as well as the 1998’s Enemies of the Empire. Keep in mind that while the DOS versions can be played using your mouse and keyboard, the Windows version from 1998 requires a joystick. Still, a gamepad should suffice.
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
| Release date: | 2003-11-19 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | BioWare |
Yes, Star Wars also boasts one of the best role-playing games ever released. BioWare’s Knights of the Old Republic rocked the genre and became a true legend in its own right, not just the SW universe.
Set 4,000 years before the events of A New Hope, KotOR tells the tale set in the ancient times of the Old Republic. The galaxy is threatened by Darth Malak and his Sith Empire. The only hope is a Jedi Padawan named Bastila Shan. Her unique Force power, Battle Meditation, can turn the tide in favor of the Republic. No wonder Malak is after her. Your character wakes up aboard the Endar Spire just as it gets attacked by the Sith. This begins an epic adventure which is somewhat of a re-telling of the Original Trilogy, coupled with one of the most memorable plot twists in the Star Wars saga.
This amazing game received a sequel, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, which is also fantastic. While very similar to its predecessor in terms of gameplay, the overall feel and plot are unique among other Star Wars works. Both games are highly recommended if you are either looking for a new RPG to play or want to try the genre and see if it’s something right for yourself.
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Star Wars: The Old Republic
| Release date: | 2003-11-19 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | BioWare |
While we never got Knights of the Old Republic III, SWTOR sort of serves as a sequel to the KotOR games, although set 300 years later. And even though it’s an MMORPG, you can totally play it for the narrative.
The second MMO in the Star Wars universe, SWTOR lets you pick one of the sides: the Old Republic or the Sith Empire. You can play as a Jedi Knight or a Sith Lord, but you’re not limited to just these classes. You can be a Republic Trooper, a Bounty Hunter, etc. – there are eight classes to choose from, each with their own storyline, complete with moral choices, a selection of companions, and quests.
While Star Wars Galaxies seemed to be more ground-breaking, this is the Star Wars MMO done right. Tons of content (with several expansions released along the way) and a fantastic score by seasoned composers will surely make playing Star Wars: The Old Republic a real pleasure. We definitely recommend at least giving it a try, since it’s free to play.
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Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
| Release date: | 2005-11-01 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Pandemic Studios |
Yes, Star Wars also features its own take on the Battlefield series. Battlefront II is probably still a fan-favorite to this day. Even the 2015 reboot and its 2017 sequel haven’t changed that.
Star Wars: Battlefront II lets you play as one of the troopers during either the Galactic Civil War or the Clone Wars. Included are all the major battlegrounds featured in the movies, ranging from the most iconic locations to some more obscure ones. Aside from running around and shooting your enemies you can also commandeer vehicles, fly starships, and even temporarily become one of the Heroes: Jedi, Sith, and their allies. This is the biggest change, as Heroes were previously only NPCs assisting your faction in battle.
There’s also a narrative-driven single-player campaign and the Galactic Conquest mode which adds some strategic elements to the whole thing. But it really shines in multiplayer. Battlefront II is a fantastic release and while the 2015 and 2017 installments are great in their own right, this one is still very dear to Star Wars fans around the world.
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Star Wars: Squadrons
| Release date: | 2020-10-02 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | MOTIVE |
So far we’ve only discussed the games that now belong to the Legends. Now, it’s time for something from the Disney canon. Star Wars: Squadrons is a title which tries to bridge the gap between the complexity of the original X-Wing/TIE Fighter series and the arcade gameplay of Rogue Squadron and its sequels.
The game puts you in the shoes of a starfighter pilot. Two, actually, as you’ll fly for both the New Republic (the game is set after the events of Return of the Jedi) and the Galactic Empire – or whatever’s left of it, at least. The campaign alternates between the two factions, so you’ll get to pilot the fighters and bombers of both, including X-Wings, TIE Fighters, and support ships: U-Wings (known from Rogue One) and TIE Reapers. B-Wings and TIE Defenders are available in multi-player which features two modes: team deathmatch and Fleet Battles – a more complex scenario where players need to cooperate with AI-controlled allies to destroy the capital ship of the opposing team.
Gameplay-wise, Squadrons does really well in balancing the more demanding aspects of space simulators with action and accessibility. Simple controls and attention to details make this game fun to play for pretty much anyone willing to give it a shot. It’s a fun Star Wars title, it’s just too bad that it no longer receives any new content and it’s hard to find players online.
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Star Wars: Republic Commando
| Release date: | 2005-03-01 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | LucasArts |
Back to the Legends. Republic Commando is one of the most beloved games in the franchise, mainly due to the fact that it focuses on an elite team of clone commandos and is one of the grittiest Star Wars works ever released.
Set during the Clone Wars, Republic Commando features three distinct acts, each in a different setting. As a commander of the Delta Squad, Boss, you and your team are dropped on Geonosis where your task is to assassinate a Geonosian lieutenant named Sun Fac. Further assignments include investigating a derelict Acclamator assault ship and aiding the Wookiees on Kashyyyk.
The game is a tactical shooter where you need to handle each enemy unit type differently and issue orders to your teammates. The campaign is short, but sweet and full of action and adrenaline-pumping moments. There’s even a multiplayer mode in the game, but it never got any love from the fans, to be honest.
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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
| Release date: | 2019-11-15 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Respawn Entertainment |
And back to the Disney canon. Jedi: Fallen Order is to this day considered probably the best game released since the House of Mouse acquired the Star Wars franchise, especially in the single-player department.
Gameplay-wise, Fallen Order is the first Souls-like game in the Star Wars universe mixed with Metroidvania. As Cal Kestis, a former Jedi Padawan now in hiding as a scrapper on Bracca, you will soon embark on an epic quest alongside some new friends as you’re on the run from the Empire and Imperial Inquisitors, especially the Second Sister. This journey will take you to places such as Zeffo, Bogano, Kashyyyk, and Dathomir.
Fallen Order is known for its Souls-like lightsaber combat and is probably the best such game since 2003’s Jedi Academy (although JO and JA are still unrivaled in this respect). There’s also plenty of platforming and exploring previously unavailable areas using newly learned skills and Force powers. It’s a fantastic single-player adventure and probably the best entry point for all those who want to find out what Dark Souls and the like are all about.
The game is getting a sequel titled Jedi: Survivor soon. There’s a chance it’ll top its predecessor and replace it on lists such as this one.
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Star Wars Episode I: Racer
| Release date: | 1999-05-17 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Lucasfilm |
Now that’s podracing! This game is one of the most beloved in the Star Wars franchise thanks to its fantastic recreation of one of Episode I’s most memorable moments.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer lets you choose one of the racers – some known from the movie, others original – and participate in the tournament where victory will bring you incredible glory. Whether it’s going to be young Anakin Skywalker or anybody else (including the legend himself: Sebulba), it’s all up to you. Each race you win brings you credits that you can spend on upgrades to your trusty podracer.
Racing is so much fun and the speeds simply ludicrous. You need to be extremely careful when maneuvering and use your turbo sparingly, as it can cause your engines to overheat and explode, which will cost you a couple of precious seconds to respawn and might cause you to lose the entire race.
It’s one of the most memorable games in the Star Wars universe, period. It seems that even people who don’t like this franchise are able to enjoy Racer without pretty much any reservations.
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LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
| Release date: | 2009-11-12 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Robosoft Technologies |
Traveller’s Tales really nailed it here. A combination of silly, good-natured humor, a not-so-faithful recreation of the events of the movies, and fun gameplay combining platforming, combat, and brick-oriented puzzles, the LEGO Star Wars games are just incredibly enjoyable, especially when played with a friend.
The Complete Saga is the first attempt to compile the two trilogies and offer a seamless experience. While the levels remain mostly intact, aside from additional visual enhancements, you can now play as the characters from the Prequel Trilogy in the Original Trilogy missions and vice versa.
The Prequel part of the game also received the most improvements, with its starship/vehicle levels remade in order to match the style of LEGO Star Wars II. Still, their original versions are available as bonus levels. Ultimately, while there isn’t anything really new in this release, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is pretty much the best way to re-experience the first six Star Wars movies and the best games in Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO series. Even The Skywalker Saga, released in 2022, isn’t anywhere near as good.
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That’s all, folks! These are the top 10 games in the Star Wars universe. If you’re looking for more stuff, consider picking up other stuff in the X-Wing/TIE Fighter series, The Force Unleashed (too bad its sequel is a bit meh and very underwhelming), other entries in the Dark Forces saga (the above-mentioned Jedi Academy, especially), and Empire at War. May the 4th or something like that be with you!