Seems that making a great Star Wars game ain’t as easy as dusting crops, farm boy.
Star Wars and video games go hand in hand. For younger fans who weren’t around when the original trilogy released, games and toys based on the galactic battle far, far away became their entry point. Everything from the sheer power of the Force to the swiftness of a lightsaber strike works perfectly in gaming.
But Star Wars games shouldn’t get cocky; Star Wars provides a fantastic formula, but it’s not always an easy one to adapt. Plenty of games set in the Star Wars universe have been poorly received for one reason or another. But there are plenty that are loved, too. And we’ve rounded up the best Star Wars games of all time. In our lowly padawan opinion, anyway.
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This list was first published in 2018 and has been updated periodically since.
10. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Set between the events of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (in non-canon) Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire sped onto Nintendo 64 in 1996. Its four chapters acted as a backstory to the events of the films, and included many iconic characters and locations.
Playing as Dash Rendar, your journey begins just before the Battle of Hoth as you deliver supplies to the Rebels – featuring an awesome appearance from Han Solo. This adventure then sees Dash fight in the Battle of Hoth, escaping just before it’s too late. You battle to save Luke Skywalker from Jabba the Hutt, and even battle Boba Fett.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is primarily a shooter, but it does feature some brilliant vehicular combat gameplay too. Despite the pretty clunky graphics (even for N64 standards) it feels so Star Wars, and allows you to have your own adventure which both ties into the films and helps the main characters on the journey. It’s available on Steam too, so you don’t even have to dig out your old N64 to give it a go.
Buy Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on Steam
9. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
In the far far away galaxy of 2005, film tie-in games were as common as womp rats on the sands of Tatooine. Typically they’d be pretty underwhelming titles looking to ride on the momentum of the film’s release, but Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was actually rather good.
The game follows the events of the film very closely, allowing you to live out some of the most epic battles and moments in the whole Prequel trilogy. You’ll rescue Chancellor Palpatine and kill Count Dooku and eventually kill Mace Windu.
But while playing as Anakin (now Darth Vader) in the final duel against Obi Wan, the game offers a very welcome surprise: an alternate ending. In this version, Vader makes the jump and kills Kenobi, allowing Star Wars fans to live out the dream of seeing Vader defeat his former Master. The duels in the game are fantastic, and there’s even an additional gameplay mode that lets you duel against any main character from the franchise. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is far from a typical film tie-in.
Buy Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith on Amazon
8. Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Who would have thought that a racer built around a ferocious, fast-paced and dangerous sport would work? Yup, pretty much everyone who watched the pod racing in Episode I; perhaps the best moment of the first prequel.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer manages to be an excellent racing experience that also feels very Star Wars. Characters from the film who raced are included in the game, with a few extras available, and the tracks venture into well-known areas from the galaxy. Naboo’s level is actually the easiest race in the game, which says a lot about how challenging some of the latter courses are.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer also includes a dynamic damage system where the racer can get damaged through collisions or crashes, which impacts on performance. It creates a balance between aggressive and cautious racing. Watto’s Workshop is even included, and offers the possibility to repair the racer and buy new parts to improve the performance.
A great game that felt just like taking part in a pod race… only without the possibility of saving your mum from Watto’s slavery. Shame.
Buy Star Wars Episode I: Racer on Steam
7. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is one of the finest additions to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Playing as Kyle Katarn, a mercenary for the New Republic, we get to see the true power of the Force, and the influence it can have on those who feel it.
Katarn’s a former Jedi, but shut himself off from his feelings after worrying about the Dark Side. However, his journey takes him right back into the world of the Force, and makes him question his alliances once again. Likewise, characters like Luke Skywalker (and others) make awesome appearances.
What makes Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast really stand out is how well it plays. It lets you feel the power of the Force, and wield a lightsaber to take on the various enemies after you. Despite not being canon, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is a must play for any Star Wars fan.
Buy Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast on CD Keys
6. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Before the Force was awakened, it was unleashed like never before thanks to developers LucasArts. First released for PS3 and Xbox 360, The Force Unleashed introduced the character of Starkiller, a secret apprentice to Darth Vader. It follows Starkiller’s troubled mindset, and portrays a powerful yet confused character who eventually turned on the Sith Lord. The story actually perfectly sets up the start to A New Hope, but it isn’t canon – look to Rogue One for that prequel story.
The very first mission in The Force Unleashed gives the opportunity to control Darth Vader as he rampages through Kashyyyk. Vader is completely overpowered and had no issue with killing innocent wookies… guess he didn’t listen to C3P0’s advice about letting the wookie win.
The Force Unleashed allows players to feel how powerful the Force is by unleashing it on waves of enemies. Despite the small level settings, the action never feels stale thanks to the variety of skills Starkiller possessed. Force Unleashed allows the player to feel the true power of the Dark Side.
Buy Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on CD Keys
5 .LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
The latest LEGO Star Wars game to come from Traveller’s Tales is undoubtedly the finest yet. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga encompasses all nine mainline movies from the Star Wars franchise and, well, turns them into LEGO. It’s the biggest LEGO game to date, with a huge open world spanning over 20 planets from the Star Wars galaxy. With so much to see and do, it’ll keep you entertained for dozens of hours.
While it comes with full voice acting, you can enable mumble mode if you wish for an experience a bit more like the older LEGO Star Wars games. In terms of gameplay, however, a new cinematic approach to its design gets you closer to the action than ever. And of course, there’s still plenty of TT Games’ trademark humour in there, and endless visual gags that will have you chuckling.
The first LEGO Star Wars game to take advantage of the power of next-gen consoles, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga can look absolutely phenomenal, too. Characters and environments are truly brought to life, with little details convincing you that everything is made up of LEGO bricks. Needless to say, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you need to play this game.
Read our review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Buy LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga on Amazon
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
A favourite for many Expanded Universe Star Wars fans, Knights of the Old Republic was developed by EA and Bioware, and exclusive to Xbox. Knights of the Old Republic allows the player to create their own character and place them in a pre-prequel RPG Star Wars world.
No other Star Wars game boasts the sheer possibility that Knights of the Old Republic does. From dialogue choices to varied upgrade options, Knights of the Old Republic is a brilliant RPG based around player choice. Some have even called it one of the best RPGs of all time.
But as great as Knights of the Old Republic is as a game, it’s not necessarily the greatest Star Wars game. It doesn’t have that exhilarating feeling that the best Star Wars games do; and that’s down to it being set so far before any of the events from the original trilogy. And since it’s an RPG, the player can’t fully control, or feel, the action. Still, there’s no denying it’s a fantastic game.
Buy Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on CD Keys
3. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars is not just about battles on land. Some of the most iconic Star Wars scenes take place in the skies, fighting in ships. No other game has captured that quite like Rogue Squadron. It allows the player to live out some of the best battles from the franchise, and also includes unique missions based on less featured planets.
Flying feels great in Rogue Squadron. Each ship has its own characteristics, but even the most lumbering and heavy Y-Wing feels nimble. The battles are tense, with each mission having a variety of different requirements and tasks to complete. The main campaign even uses original footage from the movies, which is a great touch. Rogue Squadron is the closest you’ll ever get to taking off in an actual X-Wing.
The game also includes a fleet of unlockables, from a Naboo-style fighter to the famous Millennium Falcon. Rogue Squadron makes it feel exhilarating to fly into battle, something that hasn’t been achieved again to that level in any Star Wars game.
Buy Star Wars: Rogue Squadron on Steam
2. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor
Set after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order follows Cal Kestis, a former Padawan who hid himself away after Order 66. But Cal’s powers are soon spotted by Vader’s Inquisitors, and this begins his journey to discover his true feelings, and connection to the Force. Its brand new sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, picks up Cal’s journey some years later.
Throughout the Star Wars Jedi games, we get to explore areas rich with Force lore, and discover more about those who came before. Likewise, Cal learns new techniques and gets to become the Jedi Knight he once wished to be.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor both feature some fantastic gameplay, and no Star Wars game before it has allowed us to feel the power of the Force, or the danger of a lightsaber in quite the same way. Combined with an original and highly engaging story too, this pair of games offer some of the greatest Star Wars campaigns we’ve ever played.
Buy Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on Amazon
1. Star Wars Battlefront 2
Released in 2005 for PS2 and Xbox, Star Wars Battlefront 2 puts the player in the shoes of a member of the 501st, an elite section of the stormtrooper army. The campaign follows their journey from the days of the Republic, to Order 66 and beyond. Each level is introduced with a gruff reflection on the battle, which is incredibly well done for Order 66. Star Wars Battlefront 2 gave a face to the masked stormtroopers before Finn was even a thing.
The battles are frantic and brilliant. The player can choose what type of class they want to be, and that heavily impacts the choice of weapons. In the campaign mode, where some of the missions task you with destroying vehicles, troopers armed with heavier weapons are always best. Star Wars Battlefront 2 offers a variety of iconic locations to explore. Each is brimming with possibilities for great battles.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 doesn’t just let the player take control of a stormtrooper, though. Heroes are playable too. Some of the best Jedi and Sith feature in the game, plus the likes of Han, Chewie and Boba Fett. There’s no greater Star Wars gaming feeling than Force-running through Hoth as Luke Skywalker, deflecting all incoming laser fire and slicing through stormtroopers. Basically, Star Wars Battlefront 2 is is the gaming equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back; the best of a great bunch.
