Alright, this might sound like comparing apples to oranges, but hear us out.
While Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Star Wars Outlaws seem fairly different from each other, they’re action-adventure games at their core.
So, if you love this genre, you might wonder which of these suits you best. While we recommend checking them both out, let’s dissect these two and find out which one’s the better fit for you.
Part of the reasons why you might want to choose over the other boils down to which part of the Star Wars universe you’re a fan of.
Whether you prefer an elegant weapon for a more civilized age – the lightsaber, that is – or a good blaster at your side is of course a major thing to consider here, but there are also others things at work which might influence your choice. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in, shall we?
The parts of the galaxy you’ll get to explore
Interestingly enough, both games cover soft of the same period but with a couple of caveats. Jedi: Survivor is set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith.
Star Wars Outlaws, on the other hand, is set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. This means that the former, while fully embracing the Imperial Era, still features some Prequel Trilogy influences and elements.
The latter, however, sinks deeply into the Original Trilogy. What’s interesting, though, is the fact that it features some planets introduced in the Sequel Trilogy: Kijimi and Cantonica. It’s a nice tie-in, for sure.
Generally speaking, if you’re looking forward to exploring some never-before-seen planets, both games offer some nice new additions to the Star Wars universe. Jedi: Survivor excels in this regard, as it introduces Koboh, a planet central to the game’s plot.
Its rocky wastelands and canyons are a blast to explore. There’s also a couple more locations fresh the franchise. In general, if you’re looking for more of the new and less of the familiar, Jedi: Survivor is your go-to game.
However, if you’re looking forward to exploring places known from the big screen, Star Wars Outlaws might be a much better pick. Sure, it features the all-original world of Toshara, based on savannas and all, but there’s a whole lot of familiar locations, including iconic Tatooine (which is now something of a meme at this point, as it appears in most of the new media).
Gameplay
Gameplay-wise, both games are based on the action-adventure core, but they do totally different things with it.
Jedi: Survivor is a mixture of a platformer, a soulslike slasher, and Metroidvania. Since you play as a Jedi, expect tons of lightsaber combat and using the Force not just to beat your enemies, but also overcome all sorts of obstacles and solve puzzles. There’s a whole lot of climbing and jumping. Cal Kestis can also use a blaster as an additional weapon, but this certainly doesn’t make this game a shooter.
Star Wars Outlaws, on the other hand, focuses on open-world exploration and stuff like shooting and stealth. You can travel around on your trusty speeder or go to space in your ship, the Trailblazer, complete with space combat.
The game is based around winning favor with various factions in the game’s world, gaining reputation along the way. There’s even a wanted system – sort of like in the GTA series – which determines how badly the Imperial forces will want to get you.
So, if you’re looking for a more linear experience still offering lots of freedom and based on sword fights, pick Jedi: Survivor. If you love blasters more and are on the lookout for a mixture of action and stealth in an open world setting, pick Star Wars Outlaws instead.
Character development
Plot-wise, both games are about their respective protagonists becoming someone bigger. Cal Kestis learns new things about being a Jedi Knight, while Kay Vess undergoes transformation from a measly scoundrel to an important figure in the criminal underworld.
But let’s take a look at the gameplay side of things. Both games feature character development systems which let you upgrade your heroes and their gear.
Jedi: Survivor is based on gaining experience levels to get skill points which can be traded for new abilities on the skill tree. Naturally, there are some which you gain as the plot progresses.
Star Wars Outlaws too features an upgrade system, but this one is based on completing assignments from various experts who then reward us with new skills and upgrades.
So, both games have interesting character development systems. It’s up to you to choose the one you like the most based on these descriptions.
Replayability and available content
One thing’s for sure: both games are huge. People say completing just the main objectives in Jedi: Survivor might take you over 20 hours, depending on the difficulty you choose and how fast you progress through the missions.
Star Wars Outlaws is similar in this respect, offering around 15 hours of playtime if you just focus on the primary storyline.
Obviously that’s not all these games have to offer. Jedi: Survivor is more focused on exploring the world as you see fit as opposed to its predecessor, Jedi Fallen Order. There’s so much to find, including collectibles, side quests, Jedi Chambers with puzzles to solve, etc.
Naturally, Star Wars Outlaws is bigger and offers even more options, including tons of missions from the factions featured in the game.
The faction system alone makes SWO more replayable, even though it features just one ending, just like Jedi: Survivor. Both games have something to offer on subsequent playthroughs, though.
Final remarks
As you can see, both games share their similarities and feature lots of crucial differences. Picking one just depends on who you liked more: the Jedi or them smugglers.
Jedi: Survivor is an excellent sequel to an already excellent game and Star Wars Outlaws does a pretty great job putting you in the shoes of an aspiring criminal. Both look and sound great and both are fun to play.
Heck, why not both? If you’re looking for massive action-adventure games which are also great additions to the Star Wars universe, you probably won’t go wrong with any of these two. Grab them for twice the fun!