The Star Wars galaxy is a playground so diverse, it’s no wonder it translates to games so well. Whether it’s a lightsaber duel, ships battling in the vastness of space, or spending time talking to alien species in a cantina, numerous classic games have come out of this universe to entertain us throughout the years. From critical darlings, to jaw-dropping unforgettable moments, the galaxy far, far away has spawned some of the greatest games we couldn’t stop playing. Here are the top 10 Star Wars games of all time.
10. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
The final chapter of the Jedi Knight series, Jedi Academy, took the idea of being your own Jedi and ran with it. The game has you creating a new Jedi training under series favorites Kyle Katarn and Luke Skywalker in an effort to foil a dark jedi plot. Fun enough of a premise as that is, the variety in the story and gameplay was why it needed to be ranked here. Choosing between three different lightsaber combat styles, abilities on the light or dark side of the force, and missions being pursuable outside of order gave you the feeling of playing an RPG, but fused with much tighter action gameplay. Throw in a fun multiplayer suite, and it’s a must play hit of nostalgia.
9. Star Wars: Republic Commando
Being in the boots of an elite squad leader is an excellent pitch for a great game. Republic Commando puts you in the middle of the clone wars, directing a special ops group of clone troopers taking on missions, ranging from the battle on Geonosis to defending Republic ships from waves of Battle Droids. Giving order to, but not playing as every member of the squad brings a new twist not seen in many first person shooters. The tactical feeling of sending a trooper to provide sniper fire while you fight back against a battle droid onslaught is unique, and that grittier tone helped make this game a cult hit on the original Xbox.
8. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Arguably one of the best launch games of all time, Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader was a triumph when it launched alongside the Nintendo Gamecube. The game takes you on a flight sim adventure across the original trilogy, opening with the Death Star trench run hooked players into the game from moment one. Flying a full complement of ships from the famous X-Wing all the way to the Millennium Falcon, this arcade style combat game provided hours of entertainment as one of the best games in the genre.
7. Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017)
What may have been a controversial pick in the past, has turned into a must have for any top Star Wars games list. Battlefront 2 has had a massive resurgence in players and interests of late, and it’s well deserved. It’s a multiplayer first-person shooter with a depth of content that can keep mega fans hooked for years on end while giving you chances to fight in battles across every Star Wars movie and era (available at that time). Partake in ship-to-ship combat with iconic vehicles, or team up as a group of recognizable heroes and villains in co-op missions against AI opponents. As far as a multiplayer experience goes, grabbing a group of friends for an evening in Battlefront 2 is a top tier experience that has many people wishing for a third entry.
6. Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons is similar to the Rogue Squadron series, but turns up the simulation elements to create a hardcore fighter pilot experience. The game places you on both sides of the fight, switching between piloting for the empire as well as the new republic while being entirely played from a first-person view. You are tasked with learning the nuisance of piloting different classes of ships, from speedy TIE Fighters to support ships like the U-Wing. Squadrons is an enjoyable campaign coupled with high action 5v5 multiplayer modes that isa surprise favorite of mine, harkening back to the many hours spent with a flight joystick in my hand playing older PC games.
5. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
If you were looking for an over the top action game for slashing down hordes of enemies and pulling Star Destroyers out of orbit, look no further than Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This story places us into the shoes of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller, with the power fantasy of having the full power of the dark side placed directly into your hands. Shoving lines of Stormtroopers off cliffs with a single force push, frying a Rancor with force lighting, and traversing inside a giant Sarlacc pit was just some of the high octane adventures you’d get into, culminating in the ultimate Sith lord showdown and cementing itself as an unforgettable Star Wars story.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
No one was expecting Respawn Entertainment, the studio famous for Titanfall and Apex Legends, to make an amazing soulslike metroidvania in the Star Wars universe, but somehow, it worked! Introducing Cal Kestis, a former Padawan now hiding from the Inquisitors who are hunting Jedi across the galaxy following the execution of Order 66. The need to stay alive, as well as gather allies like the memorable and adorable BD-1 to explore various planets is the driving force of the narrative, leading to a journey across known and new locations. Lightsaber combat adopted the parrying and blocking skills needed in a Dark Souls game, making encounters feel as if they could always be deadly, a welcome challenge from the hack-and-slash style combat Star Wars games usually had used prior.
3. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Reworked gameplay, multiple open world locations, and all nine movies in one package are part of the reason Traveller’s Tales new attempt at the Lego Star Wars games became such a success. The game is a fun-loving, joke-filled journey through the entire movie saga that is an easy sell for kids and adult fans in general. Combo-based melee combat, third-person cover shooting, and a full assortment of vehicles improved the gameplay for a whole new generation. With hundreds of characters, model kits and ships to collect along the way, The Skywalker Saga was a joy to experience and fits itself into being a top three Star Wars game.
2. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Building upon the groundwork of an amazing first entry, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor became one of my most loved games of the current generation. Expanding upon everything shown in Jedi Fallen Order, Survivor has us picking up with Cal Kestis with more experience, abilities, and new toys to play with once the game gets going. The new lightsaber stances keep the game fresh, while adding complexity and a little customization to combat situations that once again require skill to conquer. Companions now follow alongside you for missions, making the new planets and locations feel a bit less lonely, and gives you more time to fall in love with the crew. Platforming and puzzles are also more in depth, with new tools like a grappling hook helping to quicken exploration. It’s an all around improved experience, and one I’d strongly recommend to anyone looking for a deep Star Wars experience.
1. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
The game that was a must buy for the original Xbox, and an introduction to a decades long love affair with Bioware, Knights of the Old Republic is an all time great. It provides a story and era taking place thousands of years before the movies that will have you hooked from start to finish. On a mission to stop the Sith lord Malak, every choice your Jedi makes along the way matters and shapes the story going forward. Embracing the dark side or light side of the force, being aggressive or helpful to NPCs, and the crewmates that accompany you all affect your journey. Knights of The Old Republic is regarded as one the best games in general ever made, not just in Star Wars, for many reasons.
