Nightdive Studios has announced they’re working on a PC and console remaster of Lucasarts’ classic Star Wars: Dark Forces. We’ve got fond memories of blasting our way through it, even though Disney made it non-canon with Rogue One.
This news has also given us a hankering for some older, Lucasarts-era Star Wars games. EA’s Star Wars: Battlefront games are fine, for example, but the original Battlefront games have a special place in our heart. So we’ve rounded up the five best classic Star Wars games that you can currently play on console. And once you’re done with those, check our our list of the best Star Wars games of all time.
1. Star Wars: Battlefront (2004)
- Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Backwards Compatibility
The original Star Wars: Battlefront, published back in 2004, isn’t as pretty as EA’s 2015 version. But it’s superior in a whole host of other ways, a dream in single-player and two-player couch co-op/versus.
There’s nothing quite like hopping in a AT-AT, blasting away at AI-controlled Rebels as they try to bring you down with a Snowspeeder’s tow ropes. And it gets even better if there’s another player in that Snowspeeder.
2. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)
- Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Backwards Compatibility, and on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch as a remaster.
The second sequel to Star Wars: Dark Forces, Jedi Outcast had protagonist Kyle Katarn becoming a Jedi. Again. At least Jedi Academy didn’t see him abandoning the Force for a second time. This plot-related silliness aside, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is a fantastic first-person action game, blending shooting, slashing and, well, Star Wars.
Using Jedi powers to fell your foes is an absolute joy but you’re not so overpowered you can steamroller everyone. And switching between first-person and third person views works surprisingly well.
3. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008)
- Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Backwards Compatibility
Unlike Jedi Outcast, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed doesn’t let you wield a blaster or any kind of weapon. But the powers it gives you are so gloriously over the top, at the lightsaber combat so satisfying, that you won’t care. Is being able to yank a Star Destroyer out of the sky plausible in Star Wars canon? Probably not, but it’s an awful lot of fun.
4. Star Wars: Republic Commando (2005)
- Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Backwards Compatibility, and on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch as a remaster.
3 years before Star Wars: The Clone Wars hit the small screen, Star Wars: Republic Commando gave players a glimpse of the (sometimes short) lives of the Republic’s Clone Troopers This tactical FPS has you taking on the Separatists forces, but you’re no one man army.
Instead, success hinges on how well you utilise your AI-controlled squadmates, and whether they’re around to rescue you when you’re downed. The proposed sequel, Imperial Command, never materialised, but this classic Star Wars game is a must-play if you’re a fan of the Clone Wars era.
5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
- Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Backwards Compatibility, and Nintendo Switch as a remaster.
Stepping back into the days of Star Wars’ the Old Republic let Bioware go wild without worrying about disrupting current Star Wars canon. You’ve got free reign to explore your Dark Side, bringing (for example) a Romeo and Juliet-style dispute to a horrifying end.
Or you can be the good guy, saving the galaxy from the chrome-helmeted Sith. Throw in some smartly-written characters (not you Carth) and you’ve got one of the finest Star Wars games ever created.
