What Is The Best Star Wars Game

In honor of May the Fourth, 2022, nosotros are republishing our listing of the thirty best games that have place in a galaxy far, far away, this time with updated entries for 4 new Star Wars games that have been released since the last time this list was published in 2017. Before reappearing in 2017, though, this feature was originally published in Dec 2015.

Game developers saw the potential Star Wars had in the video games realm from the moment the picture show debuted on the silver screen in 1977. Some of these creators were and then sure this science-fiction universe would transition to the interactive space that they didn't even get the rights for the Star Wars belongings, but still decided to release their games. In 1978, a year afterward Star Wars: A New Hope opened in theaters, the reputable Apple tree Estimator released an unlicensed Star Wars game called Starwars on cassette record for the Apple 2. The game, which you can play in your web browser today, is an enjoyable footling Necktie Fighter shooting gallery.

The first officially licensed Star Wars "video game" arrived a year after in 1979. Dubbed Electric Battle Command, this Kenner developed game prominently displayed an X-Wing, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia on the game'southward standalone hardware, merely the gameplay didn't accept much to practice with Star Wars at all, and pushed the player to avert blackness holes and locate the "Force-giving star."

A true console Star Wars game didn't arrive until Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released on Atari 2600 in 1982 (ii years afterward the movie graced theaters). Similar nearly games of the era, Atari shunned the movie plot and focused specifically on one activeness element: the Battle of Hoth. The only gameplay offered allowed the thespian to pilot a snowfall speeder and take out an endless stream of AT-ATs by shooting their glowing exhaust ports.

Equally crude as it was, the success of this title fabricated Star Wars a permanent fixture in video games, from popular RPGs like BioWare'south Knights of the One-time Republic to oddities like The Yoda Chronicles for mobile devices. In the decades that followed, there are dozens of Star Wars games every Star Wars fan should get effectually to playing, and dozens more that they should avoid similar Jabba the Hutt's bathroom.

Many members of the Game Informer staff have played more than Star Wars games than they can recall, and are avid fans of the films, expanded fiction, and collectibles. We spent a few days bickering over the best Star Wars games to date, and spent a few more arguing over the order they should be bundled in on our Top 30 list. Why 30? That's the cutoff betwixt the playable and fun games and the prequel-like missteps.

We promise y'all enjoy this journey through video games' exploration of a galaxy far, far away.

As always, nosotros welcome all discussions, arguments, and personal Star Wars video game lists in our comments section below. Enjoy the read, and may the Force be with you!

---

30. Star Wars: Rebel Set on 2 – The Subconscious Empire

Sega CD, 3DO, PC – 1995

Star Wars: Rebel Assault II is by all intents and purposes a terrible game, just it's too a hilarious one that uses alive-activity Star Wars footage to tell a story that is equally jaw-droppingly bad as the Star Wars Vacation Special. To put it another way, it's and so bad it'south practiced. If y'all haven't played this game yet, track it downward,Star Wars fans. You need to see the story of Rookie One, a Tatooine farmer who isn't Luke Skywalker, unfold in horrible means with some of the worst interim to ever grace a video game.

29. Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter

PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC – 2002

The sleek Delta-vii Aethersprite-class light interceptor (more than unremarkably known equally the Jedi starfighter) is the centerpiece of this first-class infinite shooter from LucasArts. Serving as a side story to Attack of the Clones, Jedi Starfighter follows the exploits of Jedi Master Adi Gallia and a mercenary named Nym. Gallia flies the Jedi Starfighter while Nym provides bombing back up in a Havoc.

Although non developed by Factor 5 – the team backside the Rogue Squadron series – the influence of those games is strongly felt in the dogfighting mechanics and mission designs. Force powers are too sewn into the mix in a unique merely befuddling way. At any point, Gallia can use the Forcefulness to deploy shields, lightning, shockwaves, or enhanced reflexes. These elements make the gameplay more dynamic, simply don't hold true to the Star Wars lore from the motion pictures.

Some other interesting twist are hidden mission objectives in each mission. Once discovered and completed, the player is rewarded with new spacecraft (including Maul's Interceptor), as well every bit boosted stages and bonuses. Jedi Starfighter is never talked about in the same jiff equally Rogue Squadron or X-Fly, but is surprisingly ane of the classic Star Wars games Sony added to PlayStation four. The game notwithstanding holds up well today and is worth a look.

28. Star Wars: Empire at State of war

PC – 2006

The Star Wars universe is a perfect fit for the existent-time strategy genre, and Petroglyph Games' Empire at War shows us just how fun huge clashes can be. Battles unfold on planet surfaces where ground troops and vehicles march for victory, and in orbit where capital clash starships similar Star Destroyers share the same space equally microscopic sea of 10-Wings and Tie Fighters.

Although Petroglyph employed a number of primal members from Westwood Studios' Control & Conquer team, Empire at War was a unique strategy game, moving abroad from the model of building bases for resources to controlling the milky way for currency to build armies.

The flow of battle is dictated mostly past vehicle-based strategies that have a surprising amount of depth, simply the tide can quickly turn when a hero or villain similar Darth Vader or Leia Organa Solo rallied the troops. The victory states are just as fun as the cadre game, pushing the player to kill the Emperor or Mon Mothma, and accident upward or use the Decease Star.

27. Star Wars

Arcade – 1983

I of the most popular arcade games of all time, Star Wars did its all-time to capture the intensity of the Insubordinate's battle confronting the Death Star. The game's fashionable 3D vector graphics capture the detail of the Death Star, deliver the sensation of roaring through its trenches, and despite their historic period, still wait stunning today.

Star Wars is a short game, allowing nearly players to come across it through to the end from just a handful of quarters. The action unfolds across three missions, all seen from the first-person vantage indicate of Luke Skywalker's X-Wing. The first phase is a confrontation against Darth Vader's TIE Fighter. The side by side stage is on the Death Star'south surface, tasking the histrion to take downwardly turrets and towers. The final (most memorable) stage is the trench run, complete with the "i-in-a-meg-shot" moment. If you, the player, doesn't hit the exhaust port, they are placed back in the trench for another run, but with less shielding. Atari even pumps Obi-Wan'due south voice through the arcade's speakers to get the thespian into the moment.

Star Wars was successfully adjusted to numerous consoles of the twenty-four hours, including the Atari 5200 and Commodore 64.

26. Star Wars: TIE Fighter

PC – 1994

Basing a video game off of a spacecraft that has the reputation of being one of the easiest to shoot out of the sky may sound like a horrible idea, but TIE Fighter showed united states a skilled pilot tin can turn the Majestic'southward lightly armored warbird into a viable threat against the Rebel Brotherhood. Played from the third- or first-person perspectives, Tie Fighter focuses heavily on dogfighting confronting Rebel X-Wings, but also shows how a Tie fighter is used for escorting larger Regal vessels. Throughout the game, the player gets the take chances to bank check out other TIE craft like the sleek Interceptor and mortiferous bomber.

The gameplay is surprisingly sophisticated, balancing intense exchanges of burn with the need to balance the Tie systems, such as rerouting power between laser and ion cannons. Tie Fighter is a tough game from the outset, made even more challenging by procedural damage can knock out the Tie's displays and leave the player blind.

While offering a number of innovations over Ten-Wing, the thrill of siding with the Empire doesn't resonate as much equally flight Republic arts and crafts, the experience offered in Necktie Fighter'southward precursor, X-Wing. Necktie Fighter is a respectable space sim that ended up being a proof of concept of sorts for its exceptional sequel, 10-Wing vs. Necktie Fighter.

25. Star Wars: Battle for Naboo

Nintendo 64, PC – 2000

In 2000, every bit Star Wars fans waited patiently for George Lucas to release Assault of the Clones in theaters, LucasArts did its all-time to make that await less painless with an overabundance of games based on The Phantom Menace. One of the better games to come out of this glut of releases is Factor v's Boxing for Naboo.

Running on an enhanced version of the Rogue Squadron engine, Factor five kicks off Boxing for Naboo with the death of Jar Jar Binks. Yes, you read that correctly. Equally a joke, the Nintendo 64 logo crushes him but as he opens his stupid mouth to say something dumb. This excellent introduction gives style to an excellent vehicle-based experience, focusing heavily on the Naboo Starfighter. Other vehicles come into play within the game's 15 missions, including surprises like sea battles and a stage that places the histrion on a ground-mounted stap (the Merchandise Federation's version of a speeder biker).

While lacking the larger-scale conflicts from Gene 5's Rogue Squadron titles, Boxing for Naboo offers a fun claiming that adds some context and calibration to the Trade Federation'south invasion of Theed. It'south not canon anymore, but nosotros all know Anakin Skywalker had plenty of assist in knocking out the Droid Control Ship's shield generator.

24. Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Nighttime Forces Ii

PC – 1997

We rarely see sequels deviate from the original game'due south formula as much every bit Raven's Dark Forces sequel does. While even so offering a traditional first-person shooter feel that syncs up with Dark Forces' minute-to-minute play, Jedi Knight also wants to exist a third-person feel that pushes the player to use a lightsaber and Force powers.

The lightsaber is unlocked in the fourth level, and from that moment on, Jedi Knight is an entirely different game than its predecessor. Yeah, players can still focus on gunplay if they want, but the lightsaber becomes an instrumental part of the gameplay, being used to deflect light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation fire and fifty-fifty illuminate darkened corridors.

The lightsaber gameplay is the weakest (and roughest) part of the game, merely the Force powers opened up new opportunities for the gunplay. Super speed and a mega-jump permit the role player to attack from different vectors. Dark side powers can also exist obtained to obliterate foes, without having to worry about protagonist Kyle Katarn turning to the Sith. Raven factors in the new powers into the level designs, only to a error. All too oft the player is pushed to thoroughly explore the vast areas for switches or openings.

Jedi Knight tells a decent story set a twelvemonth after the events of Return of the Jedi. The expansion pack Mysteries of the Sith further dives into this lore, which is unfortunately no longer a function of the Star Wars universe.

23. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Nintendo 64, PC – 1996

Long earlier Star Wars became a weekly fixture in comic books and novels, LucasFilm created a multimedia effect out of a new story that bridged the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, a period George Lucas wouldn't let whatever storyteller explore. Shadows of the Empire was released as a novel, comic book, video game, board game, and generated a wealth of merchandise, from action figures to a soundtrack. The merely matter information technology didn't become was a movie, something Lucas wishes he would take created.

The Shadows of the Empire game introduced gamers to Nuance Rendar, a smuggler who joined the Rebel Alliance at the Battle of Hoth. Seeing this iconic war unfold from a new perspective was fascinating, and was a great primer for the adventure ahead. Although Shadows of the Empire's graphics anile poorly, it was a visually impressive game at the time, showing off the calibration of the vehicles, such as an AT-ST running amok in Repeat Base of operations.

Rendar'southward personality echoed Han Solo'southward a little too closely (including a ship that looked suspiciously like the Millennium Falcon), but the story remained strong, pitting him against the likes of IG-88 and Boba Fett. Rendar also had a mitt in obtaining the plans for the 2d Death Star.

A lot of Shadows of the Empire'due south thrills came from learning more than about what happened betwixt films, but the third-person running and gunning gameplay also proved to be quite fun in a somewhat chaotic way. The game launched as a Nintendo 64 exclusive, and was released a twelvemonth afterwards PC.

22. Star Wars Pinball

Xbox I, Xbox 360, PlayStation iii, Wii U, Vita, 3DS, PC, iOS, Android – 2013

Zen Studios did a masterful task of taking familiar elements from Star Wars and translating them to pinball. With tables based on Boba Fett, The Clone Wars, Rebels, the individual films, and more, the studio had a wealth of content to work with. Fifty-fifty though your interactions are limited to flippers, each entry provides a true-blue accommodation of the dear source material.

Pinball wizards tin can take out sandcrawlers, defeat the Emperor, and – perhaps almost memorably – spend some quality time with Han Solo on the Millenium Falcon in his themed table. The sights and sounds of trying to fight the Empire while dealing with diverse mechanical snafus perfectly encapsulates what we dearest about Star Wars. When in doubt, bang on things with a space wrench.

21. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series 10/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC – 2022

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is arguably the best Lego game e'er fabricated. It's beautiful, hilarious, packed full of things to do and collectibles to find, and it features the exciting co-op that'south been nowadays in virtually Lego games for years. Plus, it contains voice acting, a starting time for the Lego Star Wars games, and a very Lego-ified retelling of all nine mainline Star Wars movies, with derisive references to in-fandom jokes and more.

On top of all this, TT Games blew open the hatch with Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga by adding not just the nine movies to play through, but an expansive open milky way to explore. Unfortunately, though, this is also the game'due south biggest problem. By creating such large worlds, it soon becomes articulate that the amount of dearest and intendance shown to the main story content wasn't given to the other side activities. Much of the planetary exploration grows stale soon after information technology begins. Still, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the definitive Lego Star Wars game and ane we'll probable be returning to for years.

20. Star Wars: The Old Republic

PC – 2011

Every intelligent Star Wars fan wants BioWare to create Knights of the Old Republic III, simply if y'all're really hungry for that story-based Star Wars experience, The Former Republic offers no less than eight story campaigns to explore. Additionally, BioWare continues to expand the game since its 2011 launch with infinite battles, a higher level cap, greater cosmetic customization, and a full single-histrion RPG called Knights of the Fallen Empire.

The storytelling is solid with excellent voice interim and meaningful choices as to how you develop your character. At that place are even romantic options with political party members. While it can be played by and large solo, cooperative flashpoints, star battles, and other PvP content, bring players together in meaningful means.

The Old Republic continues to cleave out stories in a time of the Star Wars universe that remains too fleshed out, leaving plenty of freedom for encounters between Jedi, Sith, and the rest of the intriguing character archetypes of the time.

19. Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance

PC – 1999

In this final entry to the X-Wing series, developer Totally Games shines the spotlight on the Millennium Falcon and other similarly designed multi-person vessels. The player can freely switch betwixt piloting these arts and crafts or manning their turrets and weapon systems. When the flight controls are unmanned, the AI takes over, and does a respectable job of keeping the player on runway.

10-Wing Brotherhood also welcomes the addition of multi-part mission objectives that sometimes require hyperspace jumps between star systems. The i expanse where this title falls short is in storytelling. If you haven't heard of a Star Wars graphic symbol named Ace Azzameen before, there's adept reason, every bit he'southward as forgetful as they come. Despite the disappointing narrative, X-Wing Alliance is the first title in the series to characteristic voice work – a dainty touch that further channels the cinematic qualities of Star Wars.

18. Star Wars Battlefront II

PlayStation four, Xbox One, PC – 2017

EA's second crack on its Battlefront series improved upon virtually everything in the kickoff, even going and so far as to add together a unmarried-thespian campaign, something players wanted after 2015's Battlefront. While the campaign is hit or miss depending on who you inquire, it added a unique storyline to the storied Star Wars franchise, giving players the opportunity to command a seemingly-ruthless Imperial struggling to determine what to do after the devastation of the Expiry Star. It was short and sweetness, and information technology got the task done. Afterwards that, there were still dozens of hours of fun to be had in the game'south traditional multiplayer.

Upping the ante by adding more heroes, troopers, and villains from both the prequel and sequel movies, it felt like Battlefront II would exist the ultimate Star Wars simulator. And to an extent, it was. Nosotros were able to visit famous locations spanning nearly 40 years of Star Wars history, play equally love characters, engage in multiple game types, and more than. Nonetheless, Battlefront II was initially marred past its now-infamous inclusion of loot boxes, which led to widespread outrage against the game. The event even reached congress and other governments effectually the world, with some calling for bans on the boodle box mechanic. But, the team at EA took the criticism to center, fixing much of what angered fans and ultimately, creating the best Star Wars battle sandbox in years.

17. Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Dorsum

Super Nintendo – 1994

Maybe we were just hungry for new Star Wars experiences in 1994, or in that location's a chance our standards for adequate difficulty in video games was different dorsum and so, but for whatever reason, Sculptured Software'south "Super" Star Wars series was (and is) highly regarded – not just not for the gameplay, either. All three entries in this series are brutally difficult and messy, but are loaded with fun Star Wars sights and sounds.

Empire Strikes Back was the most enjoyable installment in this series (and mayhap the least difficult). From Hoth to Cloud City, Sculpted twisted the iconic moments from the film in fun means, including a battle against a 100-pes-tall wampa. Luke Skywalker, who was a laser sponge in the first game, comes into his own in this entry with Force powers similar the ability to deflect laser fire. His usage of the Forcefulness makes the gameplay easier.

By no means should people revisit these games with the intent of finishing them, but to see how absurd Star Wars could be with countless waves of monsters and foreign interpretations of the films' central moments. Odds are you'll make it through more of Empire than whatever other serial entry.

16. Star Wars Squadrons

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC – 2020

Much in the way Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was a comeback for traditional unmarried-player Star Wars action games, and then too was Squadrons for the infinite combat simulator. Clocking in with a short and sweet campaign that volition run you less than ten hours and a light but fun multiplayer experience, Squadrons brought dorsum the heady space-based dogfighting that largely defined Star Wars video games for some time.

On top of being downright a smash to play, with space flying feeling the best it'south been in years, it was gorgeous, with breathtaking skyboxes surrounding every aerial battleground. Plus, its story, which weaved betwixt a Rebel perspective and an Imperial one, was enthralling, presenting a unique experience for the Star Wars infinite at the fourth dimension. The game's post-launch Mandalorian-inspired DLC – despite promises that DLC would non be coming to the game – was the ruby-red on meridian. Squadrons is a fun experience for anyone and everyone interested in the dogfights of Star Wars.

xv. Star Wars: Republic Commando

Xbox, PC – 2005

Jango Fett's DNA runs through every clone trooper, merely we rarely see how deadly they can exist in whatsoever of the characteristic films. The Clone Wars cartoon all-time highlights the clone troopers' talents, diving deep into their personalities, but our first real sense of taste of them becoming individuals with unique skillsets came from Republic Commando, a first-person shooter from LucasArts.

The game focuses on a squadron of four troopers (Boss, Scorch, Fixer, and Sev), each wearing personalized armor and conveying dissimilar weapons to splatter Geonosis bugs. Picking up at the tail end of the events in Attack of the Clones, Republic Commando spans two years, and shows how instrumental they were in dismantling the Trade Federation. Their mission brings them to a derelict star destroyer, and they even spend a fiddling time with Master Yoda.

As rounds are unloaded into the Separatist army, Republic Commando makes great use of team controls, allowing the player to send a sharpshooter to a sniper indicate, a hacker to open a door, and the weapons proficient to lite up the droid forces with a well a placed Thermal Detonator. The on-the-fly squad control may audio adequately complex, but the system that LucasArts has developed couldn't exist easier to use.

"Although the controls fit as comfortably as Master Chief's glove, the targeting organization is too demanding of precision, specially when yous are required to unload dozens of rounds into certain enemy types," Game InformerEditor-in-Chief Andrew Reiner wrote in his review. "If you don't have armor-breaking rounds, a Super Battle Droid can be merely as annoying as the new dance number in Render of the Jedi. Airborne foes are also quite difficult to tag at a successful charge per unit."

Reiner also criticized the game for its lack of enemy diversity, simply praised the concept and mission variety. A sequel titled Regal Commando was planned and entered development at LucasArts, but never made it past the conceptual stages before it was canceled.

14. Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars

PlayStation three, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS, PSP, DS, PC – 2011

I of the most ambitious and entertaining Lego Star Wars games is based off of the The Clone Wars animated series. Delivering the same neat brick-busting activeness as the Lego games based on the prequel and classic movie trilogies, Lego Star Wars III experiments with the tried-and-true formula through new RTS-inspired stages, which successfully capture the essence of big-scale ground battles.

"Base building, resources direction, and carefully plotted strategies are all a function of the mix, just in execution, the RTS elements are lite, and so like shooting fish in a barrel to comprehend that even not-gamers should figure them out in a few minutes," Reiner said in his review. "In addition to crushing the opposing forces (which could be the Commonwealth or Separatists, depending on who you lot cull) the goal of the RTS levels is to secure territories. With each occupied territory, new building options become bachelor. You lot tin can build a broad variety of vehicles (all of which tin can be controlled), besides as troops (which y'all can order to attack specific targets), shield generators, torpedo stations, and should the victory conditions call for it, an escape pod. All of the vehicles control exceptionally well and offer varying tactical strengths. The one problem that these levels come across is the AI almost comes across as pacifistic. They'll destroy budgeted vehicles and volition throw upwards a shield, just they never push dorsum or rally to protect their bases. The true nemesis ends up being the clock. Early on in the game, before the stud multiplier and invincibility red bricks can be purchased, completing a phase in a set amount of time can be difficult. The RTS levels are abundant, and a great improver to Traveller'due south Tales' well-worn LEGO gameplay. In co-op games, targeting can also exist a bit problematic due to the lack of photographic camera command offered to the players."

The Clone Wars offers 114 playable characters, an infrequent design for cooperative play, and some of the best level designs in any Lego game to appointment. You even unlock characters from the classic and prequel trilogies.

13. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

Nintendo 64, PC – 1998

Totally Games' X-Wing serial sadly didn't go on, but Star Wars fans itching to get back into the skies weren't left hanging for long. In Rogue Squadron, Factor v moves away from X-Wing'southward circuitous weapon and targeting systems and embraces a simplicity that better captures swift maneuvers of Star Wars' vehicles. Dozens of Tie Fighters tin be diddled out of the sky with ease, and evasive maneuvers through narrow passages is as simple as performing a barrel roll. Only put, Factor 5 made players feel like highly trained (and achieved) Commonwealth fighter pilots.

The Ten-Wing, Y-Wing, snowspeeder, A-Wing, and lesser-known V-Wing are all controllable in missions set outside of the feature films. Through play, the Battle of Hoth, Ragamuffin'due south Coulee, and The Expiry Star Trench run (perhaps the most polished levels in the game) become available.

Rogue Squadron opened our eyes to a new kind of Star Wars experience on both console and PC, and gear up the phase for something even improve.

12. Star Wars Episode I: Racer

Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC – 1999

Odds are many of you don't have fond memories of the pod racing sequence from The Phantom Menace. Y'all will hear some people say that pod racing is an interesting idea with poor execution in the movie. You'll hear other people say that that unique vision of racing is all-time captured in LucasArts Nintendo 64 game, Star Wars Episode I: Racer. The Nintendo 64's graphics don't offer the best draw distance for vehicles roaring at breakneck speeds, but the sense of speed is brilliantly captured, turning whatsoever narrow straightaway or hairpin turn into a nerve-racking and immensely satisfying experience.

Forth with Anakin'south familiar pod, Racer gives us a better look at his rival Sebulba (who is equipped with a kicking-ass flamethrower), and other lesser-known characters like Mars Guo, Boles Roor, and Bozzie Baranta. Racer as well expands the size of the Star Wars universe with tracks scattered all across the cosmos. Players seeking an authentic experience can try playing the game with two controllers, ane for each of the pod'southward engines. This way of play is ridiculous and difficult, but is good for a express joy.

With over iii meg copies sold, a sequel was released two years after, but the speed and challenge that fabricated the original title so enthralling was as well greatly reduced, resulting in a fast experience that ended up feeling slow. The serial never got another shot after this.

xi. Star Wars Battlefront

PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC – 2004

The idea of a Trade Federation Battle Droid attaining a sizable kill streak against the Republic may sound ridiculous, but it happens all of the time in Pandemic's Star Wars Battlefront. Players tin suit up every bit destroyer droids, wookiees, and hop into any vehicle on battlefields inspired by all of Star Wars' feature films.

Pandemic's design was aggressive at the time, almost too much so every bit well-nigh hardware couldn't handle the initial vision, which allowed 64-players to clash on PC, 24 on Xbox, and just 16 on PlayStation two. Bots are used to fill out the conflicts on console, which thankfully retain Battlefront's ability to deliver anarchy at all times. Near matches unfold like this: Spawn in a base. Round a corner to find an AT-AT raining fire into a courtyard. Turn some other corner to run into an AT-ST lumbering toward a control point. Turn around once more to find a group of stormtroopers pouring into your base. Die. Repeat.

Although spacecraft are a part of the mix, yous oft don't see them in the skies for long, as the horrendous vehicle controls frequently led to players crashing X-Wings and Tie Fighters seconds after take off. Although three single-role player modes are offered (campaign, Galactic Conquest, and Instant Activeness) these avenues of play don't hold interest for long and experience tacked on – something Pandemic fixed in the sequel.

Regardless of its shortcomings, Battlefront sizzles with its large-calibration conflicts and is one of the greatest multiplayer experiences offered on PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

10. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

PlayStation two, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP, PC – 2008

The proper name Starkiller likely carries a different meaning for y'all afterwards The Force Awakens, but for people playing video games in 2008, Starkiller equated to a level of Star Wars craziness we never thought we would see. And if George Lucas truly cared nearly consistency in Star Wars canon, we probably shouldn't have.

The Force Unleashed's first level shows Darth Vader in his prime on Kashyyyk, cut downwardly and force-choking Wookiees with the ruthlessness we e'er heard near but never saw on the big screen. This powerful beginning gives way to a new character named Starkiller, who serves as Vader'south secret apprentice and is tasked to kill the last of the Jedi. When the Emperor catches wind of Starkiller, Vader is forced to kill his acolyte, simply he doesn't have the centre to see it through.

Starkiller is at present an outcast, searching for pregnant in the universe. Although fully trained in the ways of the dark side, he somewhen embraces the light and is proficient in both sides of the Force. His knowledge of lite and night arts makes him one of the most powerful Jedi in Star Wars. His skills are harnessed by LucasArts in a satisfying gameplay package that walks a fine line between being badass (cutting an AT-ST in one-half) and absurd (Force yanking a Star Destroyer out of orbit). Every bit exaggerated as the action tin can be, The Force Unleashed controls exceptionally well, and delivers a wild ride for Star Wars fans.

9. Star Wars: 10-Wing vs. TIE Fighter

PC – 1997

After creating standalone games for 10-Wing and TIE-Fighter, Totally Games did the next logical thing: it united the two into a multiplayer-centric experience. Ten-Fly vs. TIE Fighter allows eight players to duke it out across a number of maps and modes in a variety of ships including A-Wings, Headhunters, Necktie Interceptors, and Y-Wings. The gameplay is fluid and fun, but is fairly shallow in content. Totally Games addressed this complaint through the release of Balance of Power, an expansion pack that adds xv missions, all supported with viii-actor cooperative play.

8. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Society

PlayStation four, Xbox 1, PC – 2019

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Lodge was a return to grade for the franchise in the video game space. For years, EA'south multiplayer Battlefront series was the just major option. It had been years since the last single-player, lightsaber action Star Wars game, though, Which is why information technology was surprising when information technology was announced that EA's Respawn studio, the squad behind the Titanfall franchise, was working on but that.

Fix in the years post-obit the infamous Order 66 that brought about the terminate of the Jedi Order, players command Cal Kestis on a journey to discover what happened that fateful solar day, his place in it, and where the remaining survivors can hopefully re-plant a Jedi Order. Featuring Souls-inspired gainsay, a fun array of Strength powers, iconic locations, and more, Fallen Order was exactly what Star Wars games needed. At present, it was quite buggy on release, and some elements of the game leave a little to exist desired, but playing through Fallen Gild is still a nail. Information technology feels like the original Assassin'south Creed of its franchise, with the upcoming sequel hopefully fixing all of the first game's problems and making it a truly iconic series for years to come up.

vii. Star Wars: Nighttime Forces

PC – 1995

One of the greatest touches in any game was LucasArts' decision to lower the accuracy of the storm trooper's blasters in Star Wars: Dark Forces, a first-person shooter set in the classic trilogy era. Stormtroopers can't hit anything in the movies, and in Dark Forces, the thespian experiences that firsthand. This shooter came on the heels of Doom ushering in the first-person revolution for gaming, and was heralded at the time for its expanded movement, which includes the ability to crouch and leap.

Dark Forces captures the spirit of Star Wars in its gameplay and story, pitting Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial soldier turned Rebel mercenary, against what seems like every stormtrooper in the Imperial ground forces. The gunplay is fast and fun, and loaded with surprises like the Majestic'south development of Nighttime Trooper soldiers. If you lot love Dark Forces, read our feature on the development of the game.

six. Star Wars: Rogue Leader

GameCube – 2001

Available as a launch title for Nintendo's GameCube, Star Wars: Rogue Leader was a organization seller. With Star Destroyer's housing over 300,000 polygons, and laser reflections mapping accurately across its hulking hull, Rogue Leader was a keen example of the graphical leap between gaming generations.

Edifice off of the success of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, this sequel offers an incredible campaign that pays homage to the battles from the archetype trilogy of films just as much as it gives fans corking new Star Wars content to absorb. The Battle of Hoth and the Death Star run showcase a dizzying level of detail in the environments and vehicles. Rogue Leader too features pregnant gameplay enhancements over the original game, like improved A.I. for Tie fighters that break off from their patrol squadrons if their numbers dwindle, equally well as a camera that pulls back to highlight the intimate battle of a dogfight. Cistron five too finds a way to brand the B-Wing (the oddest ship in Star Wars) fun to pilot.

Factor 5 establishes a fantastic formula for Star Wars space combat in Rogue Leader, but foolishly tried to integrate on-human foot combat in the sequel, Insubordinate Strike, which, to this day, is referenced as one of the biggest sequel flops in gaming. Rogue Leader scored a ix.v from Game informer. Two years later Insubordinate Strike netted merely a 6.five.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Erstwhile Republic II – The Sith Lords

Xbox, PC – 2004

Although development switched studios from BioWare to Obsidian Entertainment, the choice-driven bliss of the original Knights of the Erstwhile Republic RPG is live and well in Sith Lords. Picking up 5 years later the fall of Lord Malak, the Sith Lords is some other finely penned tale that offers deeper dialogue options, some other great cast of characters, and plenty of alignment-specific variables.

Former Game Informereditor Joe Juba gave the game a glowing review back in the day, maxim "The Sith Lords is impossible to resist. Embracing the night side, I twisted an apprentice to my corrupt will, polluted the Strength with senseless slaughter, and was told by my loyal HK unit that I was like 'a delightful random cruelty generator.' Even more than than its predecessor, The Sith Lords provides countless opportunities for players to revel in the backwash of their own choices. Essentially, anyone who said that Obsidian couldn't live upwards to the standards prepare past BioWare's kickoff installment should be stuffing their mouths full of Bantha fodder correct nigh now."

The Sith Lords' catastrophe is heavily criticized, every bit the last sequence is left incomplete. Modders restored various pieces of content to slice together an feel closer to Obsidian's intended simply unexecuted vision.

four. Star Wars Battlefront II

PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC – 2005

In Star Wars Battlefront II, programmer Pandemic Studios delivers a Star Wars feel alike to playing with a box full of Hasbro Star Wars toys. The wide selection of vehicles, troopers, heroes, and villains collide on the battlefield, and the player tin can collaborate and play with it all at any given time. This sequel stands tall similar an AT-AT over its predecessor in terms of content and improving every aspect of play, most notably the vehicle controls – they tin can actually be flown skillfully this fourth dimension effectually.

Additionally, a more fully featured single-player campaign shows Vader's prized 501st Legion in action, and is a good deal of fun, even with trivial in terms of narrative context. Belongings true to its predecessor, the virtually fun in Battlefront Ii comes from the multiplayer mayhem that unfolds across 12 maps on land and in space, allowing players to run and gun and then engage in amazing vehicle-based conflicts. Pandemic upps the number of players to 24 on PlayStation ii, 32 on Xbox, and PC remains the all-time avenue of play with 64 at once.

3. Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast

PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC – 2002

After stumbling a bit with the lightsaber gameplay in Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II, Raven came back swinging in Jedi Outcast, a sequel that hones in on the finesse and power of the Jedi craft. Playing every bit a Jedi is every bit as empowering as information technology should be. Seeing Kyle transform from a character who would duck backside corners to exchange fire with Stormtroopers in the precursor titles to a full-fledged Jedi who stands unflinchingly in forepart of any foe to deflect their laser fire and manipulate their minds into lowering their weapons is absurd to see, and a rare evolution of a character for a video game.

The thrills of unleashing Force Lightning and leaping great distances extends beyond the campaign to a wild multiplayer feel that allows up to 32 Jedi to battle information technology out on PC. The console versions, while delivering fantabulous ports of the campaign, only support four-players in multiplayer, nonetheless still manage to exist a Force-powered anarchism.

ii. Star Wars: X-Wing

PC – 1993

PC players were spoiled rotten in the 1990s. LucasArts was on fire with the Star Wars license, and no game stood out more than Star Wars: X-Wing, a dogfighting simulator that captured the speed, precision, and scale of this universe'due south epic wars better than any game earlier it. Piloting an 10-Wing from the outset-person perspective is an enthralling feel that balances simplicity in combat with a complexity of ship management nosotros rarely see in game's today. While the main goal is to frame Tie Fighters in the cantankerous hairs and fire, the player also has to manage the power resource allotment between the engines, shields, and lasers. And yes, R2-D2 chirps noisily to your demands.

While lacking the multiplayer excitement of later entries in the series, Ten-Fly stands out with its mission blueprint and nicely counterbalanced challenges. A true testament to its excellence, X-Wing still looks and plays remarkably well today, twenty-some years later its initial release.

one. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Xbox, PC – 2003

If the Forcefulness flows through you, do you marshal with the light side and fight for the Republic, or turn to the night side to larn the ancient means of the Sith? BioWare'south RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Erstwhile Democracy embraces this fantasy, letting the role player go a feared Sith Lord or a virtuous Jedi. The path between these two factions frequently blurs, forcing the histrion to make difficult choices: Do you accept information technology in yous to sacrifice one person for the greater good of the galaxy, or do your personal connections cloud your judgment?

Although Knights of the Erstwhile Republic is no longer a canonical part of Disney's new Star Wars universe, the game's story gives us a good expect at the Sith in their prime roughly 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire. BioWare does a fantastic job realizing this era and making it simply as mysterious and wonderful every bit the feature films. The bulk of the game delivered the sensation of journeying into the unknown, and giving usa satisfying glimpses into lore that nosotros've e'er wanted to know more than about – such as the origins of the Sith and locations we've only heard mentioned before. The game also tickles the fancy of Star Wars fans with familiar sights, sounds, beasts, and a vibe that never wavered from trying to exist canon. And it fifty-fifty delivers a droid that should be held in the same breath as R2-D2 and C-3PO. HK-47 is a wisecracking assassin droid that oozes personality and is an example of BioWare'south remarkable writing.

Turn-based combat isn't the best manner to evidence off a Jedi'due south acrobatic lightsaber skills, but Knights of the Old Republic all the same manages make these mythic figures look powerful. Skirmishes deliver just much satisfying choice-driven options equally the narrative, pushing the player to switch between teammates, and lower the sword to use heavy artillery.

Originally released as an Xbox exclusive on July 15, 2003, Reiner scored Knights of the Old Republic a nine.five out of ten back in the day, calling it "a dream come truthful for Star Wars fans."

Allow the states know what your favorite Star Wars games are in the comments below!