How Many Star Wars Games Are There

In honor of May the Fourth, 2022, we are republishing our list of the xxx best games that have place in a galaxy far, far abroad, this time with updated entries for four new Star Wars games that have been released since the final time this list was published in 2017. Earlier reappearing in 2017, though, this characteristic was originally published in December 2015.

Game developers saw the potential Star Wars had in the video games realm from the moment the film debuted on the silver screen in 1977. Some of these creators were so certain this science-fiction universe would transition to the interactive infinite that they didn't even get the rights for the Star Wars property, just however decided to release their games. In 1978, a year later Star Wars: A New Hope opened in theaters, the reputable Apple Computer released an unlicensed Star Wars game chosen Starwars on cassette tape for the Apple II. The game, which you can play in your web browser today, is an enjoyable little Tie Fighter shooting gallery.

The first officially licensed Star Wars "video game" arrived a year subsequently in 1979. Dubbed Electric Battle Control, this Kenner adult game prominently displayed an 10-Wing, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia on the game's standalone hardware, only the gameplay didn't have much to do with Star Wars at all, and pushed the player to avoid black holes and locate the "Force-giving star."

A true panel Star Wars game didn't arrive until Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released on Atari 2600 in 1982 (2 years afterwards the motion picture graced theaters). Similar well-nigh games of the era, Atari shunned the movie plot and focused specifically on ane action element: the Battle of Hoth. The just gameplay offered allowed the thespian to pilot a snow speeder and have out an endless stream of AT-ATs by shooting their glowing exhaust ports.

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

Many members of the Game Informer staff have played more 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 all-time Star Wars games to appointment, and spent a few more arguing over the social club they should be arranged in on our Peak thirty list. Why xxx? That'due south the cutoff between the playable and fun games and the prequel-like missteps.

We hope you enjoy this journey through video games' exploration of a milky way far, far away.

Every bit always, we welcome all discussions, arguments, and personal Star Wars video game lists in our comments section below. Relish the read, and may the Force be with y'all!

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30. Star Wars: Rebel Assault Ii – The Subconscious Empire

Sega CD, 3DO, PC – 1995

Star Wars: Rebel Assault II is by all intents and purposes a terrible game, but it'southward as well a hilarious one that uses live-action Star Wars footage to tell a story that is every bit jaw-droppingly bad as the Star Wars Holiday Special. To put information technology another way, it's and so bad it's proficient. If you oasis't played this game yet, track information technology downwards,Star Wars fans. You need to see the story of Rookie One, a Tatooine farmer who isn't Luke Skywalker, unfold in horrible ways with some of the worst acting to always grace a video game.

29. Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter

PlayStation two, Xbox, PC – 2002

The sleek Delta-7 Aethersprite-course lite interceptor (more than commonly known every bit the Jedi starfighter) is the centerpiece of this first-class space shooter from LucasArts. Serving as a side story to Set on of the Clones, Jedi Starfighter follows the exploits of Jedi Main Adi Gallia and a mercenary named Nym. Gallia flies the Jedi Starfighter while Nym provides bombing back up in a Havoc.

Although not developed past Factor 5 – the squad behind the Rogue Squadron series – the influence of those games is strongly felt in the dogfighting mechanics and mission designs. Force powers are as well sewn into the mix in a unique but befuddling manner. At any point, Gallia tin apply the Forcefulness to deploy shields, lightning, shockwaves, or enhanced reflexes. These elements make the gameplay more dynamic, just don't hold true to the Star Wars lore from the move pictures.

Another interesting twist are hidden mission objectives in each mission. Once discovered and completed, the player is rewarded with new spacecraft (including Maul'south Interceptor), as well equally additional stages and bonuses. Jedi Starfighter is never talked about in the same breath equally Rogue Squadron or Ten-Wing, but is surprisingly one of the classic Star Wars games Sony added to PlayStation 4. The game still holds up well today and is worth a look.

28. Star Wars: Empire at War

PC – 2006

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

Although Petroglyph employed a number of key members from Westwood Studios' Command & Conquer team, Empire at War was a unique strategy game, moving away from the model of building bases for resources to controlling the galaxy for currency to build armies.

The flow of battle is dictated mostly by vehicle-based strategies that accept a surprising amount of depth, but the tide can quickly turn when a hero or villain like Darth Vader or Leia Organa Solo rallied the troops. The victory states are just as fun as the core game, pushing the player to kill the Emperor or Mon Mothma, and blow up or use the Death Star.

27. Star Wars

Arcade – 1983

One of the nearly popular arcade games of all time, Star Wars did its all-time to capture the intensity of the Rebel'southward battle against the Death Star. The game's stylish 3D vector graphics capture the detail of the Expiry Star, evangelize the sensation of roaring through its trenches, and despite their age, nonetheless await stunning today.

Star Wars is a short game, allowing most players to run across it through to the finish from only a scattering of quarters. The action unfolds beyond three missions, all seen from the get-go-person vantage indicate of Luke Skywalker'southward 10-Wing. The first phase is a confrontation confronting Darth Vader's Tie Fighter. The next phase is on the Expiry Star's surface, tasking the player to take downwardly turrets and towers. The concluding (virtually memorable) phase is the trench run, complete with the "one-in-a-million-shot" moment. If you, the player, doesn't striking the exhaust port, they are placed back in the trench for another run, only with less shielding. Atari even pumps Obi-Wan's voice through the arcade'south speakers to go the player into the moment.

Star Wars was successfully adapted to numerous consoles of the day, 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, only TIE Fighter showed us a skilled airplane pilot can turn the Purple's lightly armored warbird into a viable threat against the Rebel Alliance. Played from the tertiary- or showtime-person perspectives, Necktie Fighter focuses heavily on dogfighting confronting Rebel X-Wings, but also shows how a TIE fighter is used for escorting larger Imperial vessels. Throughout the game, the thespian gets the chance to bank check out other Tie craft like the sleek Interceptor and deadly bomber.

The gameplay is surprisingly sophisticated, balancing intense exchanges of fire with the need to residue the Necktie systems, such every bit rerouting power between laser and ion cannons. TIE Fighter is a tough game from the kickoff, fabricated even more challenging by procedural harm can knock out the Necktie'due south displays and leave the role player blind.

While offering a number of innovations over 10-Wing, the thrill of siding with the Empire doesn't resonate every bit much as flying Republic craft, the experience offered in Necktie Fighter'southward forerunner, Ten-Fly. Necktie Fighter is a respectable space sim that ended upwards being a proof of concept of sorts for its exceptional sequel, X-Wing vs. TIE 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 Attack of the Clones in theaters, LucasArts did its best to make that wait less painless with an glut of games based on The Phantom Menace. 1 of the ameliorate games to come out of this glut of releases is Factor 5'southward Boxing for Naboo.

Running on an enhanced version of the Rogue Squadron engine, Cistron 5 kicks off Battle for Naboo with the expiry of Jar Jar Binks. Yeah, you read that correctly. Equally a joke, the Nintendo 64 logo crushes him simply as he opens his stupid mouth to say something dumb. This first-class introduction gives way 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 footing-mounted stap (the Trade Federation'due south version of a speeder biker).

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

24. Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Nighttime Forces II

PC – 1997

We rarely see sequels deviate from the original game's formula as much as Raven's Night Forces sequel does. While nonetheless offering a traditional offset-person shooter experience that syncs upwardly with Nighttime Forces' infinitesimal-to-minute play, Jedi Knight also wants to be a third-person experience that pushes the actor to apply 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. Yep, players can still focus on gunplay if they desire, but the lightsaber becomes an instrumental role of the gameplay, being used to deflect laser burn down and even illuminate darkened corridors.

The lightsaber gameplay is the weakest (and roughest) part of the game, simply the Strength 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 fault. All too often the player is pushed to thoroughly explore the vast areas for switches or openings.

Jedi Knight tells a decent story ready a year afterwards the events of Render of the Jedi. The expansion pack Mysteries of the Sith farther dives into this lore, which is unfortunately no longer a part of the Star Wars universe.

23. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Nintendo 64, PC – 1996

Long before Star Wars became a weekly fixture in comic books and novels, LucasFilm created a multimedia event out of a new story that bridged the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, a menstruum George Lucas wouldn't let any storyteller explore. Shadows of the Empire was released as a novel, comic volume, video game, lath game, and generated a wealth of merchandise, from activeness figures to a soundtrack. The only affair it didn't get was a movie, something Lucas wishes he would have created.

The Shadows of the Empire game introduced gamers to Dash Rendar, a smuggler who joined the Insubordinate Alliance at the Battle of Hoth. Seeing this iconic state of war unfold from a new perspective was fascinating, and was a great primer for the gamble alee. Although Shadows of the Empire'south graphics aged 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 Echo Base of operations.

Rendar's personality echoed Han Solo'south a little too closely (including a send that looked suspiciously like the Millennium Falcon), but the story remained potent, pitting him confronting the likes of IG-88 and Boba Fett. Rendar also had a hand in obtaining the plans for the second Death Star.

A lot of Shadows of the Empire's thrills came from learning more about what happened between films, but the third-person running and gunning gameplay too proved to be quite fun in a somewhat chaotic style. The game launched as a Nintendo 64 exclusive, and was released a year later on PC.

22. Star Wars Pinball

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

Zen Studios did a masterful job 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 faithful adaptation of the beloved source material.

Pinball wizards can take out sandcrawlers, defeat the Emperor, and – perhaps most memorably – spend some quality fourth dimension with Han Solo on the Millenium Falcon in his themed tabular array. The sights and sounds of trying to fight the Empire while dealing with diverse mechanical snafus perfectly encapsulates what we love about Star Wars. When in dubiety, blindside on things with a infinite wrench.

21. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

PlayStation 5, Xbox Serial X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC – 2022

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is arguably the best Lego game always fabricated. It'due south cute, hilarious, packed total of things to practise and collectibles to observe, and it features the exciting co-op that's been present in most Lego games for years. Plus, it contains voice acting, a commencement for the Lego Star Wars games, and a very Lego-ified retelling of all 9 mainline Star Wars movies, with derisive references to in-fandom jokes and more.

On pinnacle of all this, TT Games blew open up the hatch with Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga by calculation not simply the nine movies to play through, simply an expansive open galaxy to explore. Unfortunately, though, this is likewise the game's biggest problem. By creating such big worlds, it soon becomes clear that the amount of love and care shown to the main story content wasn't given to the other side activities. Much of the planetary exploration grows stale soon afterwards it begins. Withal, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the definitive Lego Star Wars game and one we'll likely exist returning to for years.

twenty. Star Wars: The Sometime Republic

PC – 2011

Every intelligent Star Wars fan wants BioWare to create Knights of the Old Republic Iii, but if you're really hungry for that story-based Star Wars experience, The Quondam Democracy offers no less than eight story campaigns to explore. Additionally, BioWare continues to aggrandize the game since its 2011 launch with space battles, a higher level cap, greater cosmetic customization, and a full unmarried-player RPG chosen Knights of the Fallen Empire.

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

The Old Republic continues to carve out stories in a fourth dimension of the Star Wars universe that remains as well fleshed out, leaving plenty of freedom for encounters betwixt Jedi, Sith, and the rest of the intriguing grapheme archetypes of the time.

19. Star Wars: X-Fly Alliance

PC – 1999

In this concluding entry to the Ten-Fly series, developer Totally Games shines the spotlight on the Millennium Falcon and other similarly designed multi-person vessels. The player tin can freely switch between piloting these craft or manning their turrets and weapon systems. When the flying controls are unmanned, the AI takes over, and does a respectable job of keeping the player on track.

10-Wing Alliance as well welcomes the addition of multi-part mission objectives that sometimes crave hyperspace jumps between star systems. The one area where this title falls curt is in storytelling. If you lot haven't heard of a Star Wars grapheme named Ace Azzameen earlier, there's good reason, as he'southward as forgetful as they come. Despite the disappointing narrative, Ten-Wing Brotherhood is the beginning title in the serial to feature voice work – a nice touch that further channels the cinematic qualities of Star Wars.

18. Star Wars Battlefront 2

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC – 2017

EA's 2nd scissure on its Battlefront series improved upon almost everything in the first, even going so far as to add together a single-player campaign, something players wanted later 2015's Battlefront. While the campaign is striking or miss depending on who you lot inquire, it added a unique storyline to the storied Star Wars franchise, giving players the opportunity to control a seemingly-ruthless Imperial struggling to decide what to practise later the devastation of the Expiry Star. It was short and sweet, and it got the chore washed. After that, there were still dozens of hours of fun to be had in the game's traditional multiplayer.

Upping the dues by calculation more heroes, troopers, and villains from both the prequel and sequel movies, it felt like Battlefront 2 would be the ultimate Star Wars simulator. And to an extent, it was. We were able to visit famous locations spanning nearly 40 years of Star Wars history, play every bit dearest characters, engage in multiple game types, and more. However, Battlefront II was initially marred by its now-infamous inclusion of loot boxes, which led to widespread outrage against the game. The consequence fifty-fifty reached congress and other governments around the earth, with some calling for bans on the loot box mechanic. Just, the team at EA took the criticism to heart, 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

Peradventure we were merely hungry for new Star Wars experiences in 1994, or at that place's a chance our standards for acceptable difficulty in video games was different dorsum then, merely for whatever reason, Sculptured Software's "Super" Star Wars series was (and is) highly regarded – not simply 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 perhaps the least difficult). From Hoth to Cloud Urban center, Sculpted twisted the iconic moments from the film in fun ways, including a battle against a 100-foot-tall wampa. Luke Skywalker, who was a laser sponge in the first game, comes into his ain in this entry with Force powers like the ability to deflect laser fire. His usage of the Force 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 exist with countless waves of monsters and strange interpretations of the films' key moments. Odds are you'll go far through more than of Empire than whatsoever other series entry.

16. Star Wars Squadrons

PlayStation four, Xbox 1, PC – 2020

Much in the fashion Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was a comeback for traditional single-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 lot less than 10 hours and a calorie-free just fun multiplayer feel, Squadrons brought back the heady space-based dogfighting that largely defined Star Wars video games for some time.

On top of being downright a boom to play, with space flight feeling the all-time it's been in years, information technology was gorgeous, with breathtaking skyboxes surrounding every aerial battleground. Plus, its story, which weaved between a Rebel perspective and an Imperial one, was enthralling, presenting a unique experience for the Star Wars space at the time. The game's post-launch Mandalorian-inspired DLC – despite promises that DLC would not be coming to the game – was the cherry on pinnacle. Squadrons is a fun feel for anyone and everyone interested in the dogfights of Star Wars.

fifteen. Star Wars: Republic Commando

Xbox, PC – 2005

Jango Fett's DNA runs through every clone trooper, but nosotros rarely run into how deadly they can be in whatever of the characteristic films. The Clone Wars drawing best highlights the clone troopers' talents, diving deep into their personalities, but our kickoff real taste of them condign individuals with unique skillsets came from Republic Commando, a outset-person shooter from LucasArts.

The game focuses on a squadron of four troopers (Boss, Scorch, Fixer, and Sev), each wearing personalized armor and carrying different weapons to splatter Geonosis bugs. Picking up at the tail end of the events in Set on of the Clones, Commonwealth Commando spans 2 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 trivial time with Master Yoda.

As rounds are unloaded into the Separatist army, Republic Commando makes great apply of squad controls, allowing the histrion to ship a sharpshooter to a sniper betoken, a hacker to open a door, and the weapons expert to low-cal up the droid forces with a well a placed Thermal Detonator. The on-the-fly team control may sound adequately complex, but the system that LucasArts has developed couldn't be easier to use.

"Although the controls fit every bit comfortably as Chief Chief's glove, the targeting system is too demanding of precision, especially when you lot are required to unload dozens of rounds into certain enemy types," Game InformerEditor-in-Chief Andrew Reiner wrote in his review. "If yous don't have armor-breaking rounds, a Super Battle Droid can exist just as annoying as the new trip the light fantastic toe number in Render of the Jedi. Airborne foes are also quite hard to tag at a successful rate."

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

14. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

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

I of the nigh ambitious and entertaining Lego Star Wars games is based off of the The Clone Wars animated series. Delivering the same neat brick-busting activity equally the Lego games based on the prequel and classic film trilogies, Lego Star Wars 3 experiments with the tried-and-truthful formula through new RTS-inspired stages, which successfully capture the essence of large-scale ground battles.

"Base building, resources management, and carefully plotted strategies are all a part of the mix, merely in execution, the RTS elements are light, and so like shooting fish in a barrel to cover that even non-gamers should figure them out in a few minutes," Reiner said in his review. "In addition to burdensome the opposing forces (which could be the Democracy or Separatists, depending on who you cull) the goal of the RTS levels is to secure territories. With each occupied territory, new edifice options become available. Yous can build a broad diverseness of vehicles (all of which can be controlled), as well as troops (which you can order to assail specific targets), shield generators, torpedo stations, and should the victory conditions call for it, an escape pod. All of the vehicles command exceptionally well and offer varying tactical strengths. The one problem that these levels run into is the AI almost comes across as pacifistic. They'll destroy approaching vehicles and will throw up a shield, merely they never push back or rally to protect their bases. The true nemesis ends upwards being the clock. Early in the game, before the stud multiplier and invincibility ruby-red bricks can exist purchased, completing a stage in a set amount of time tin can be hard. The RTS levels are abundant, and a great improver to Traveller's Tales' well-worn LEGO gameplay. In co-op games, targeting tin also be a flake problematic due to the lack of camera control offered to the players."

The Clone Wars offers 114 playable characters, an exceptional blueprint for cooperative play, and some of the all-time level designs in whatsoever Lego game to date. Y'all even unlock characters from the classic and prequel trilogies.

13. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

Nintendo 64, PC – 1998

Totally Games' X-Fly series sadly didn't keep, but Star Wars fans itching to become back into the skies weren't left hanging for long. In Rogue Squadron, Factor 5 moves abroad from 10-Wing's circuitous weapon and targeting systems and embraces a simplicity that better captures swift maneuvers of Star Wars' vehicles. Dozens of Tie Fighters can exist blown out of the sky with ease, and evasive maneuvers through narrow passages is as simple every bit performing a barrel coil. Simply put, Factor 5 fabricated players feel similar highly trained (and accomplished) Democracy fighter pilots.

The 10-Fly, Y-Wing, snowspeeder, A-Fly, and lesser-known V-Wing are all controllable in missions prepare outside of the feature films. Through play, the Battle of Hoth, Ragamuffin's Canyon, and The Death Star Trench run (perhaps the about 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 set the stage for something fifty-fifty meliorate.

12. Star Wars Episode I: Racer

Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC – 1999

Odds are many of you lot don't have addicted memories of the pod racing sequence from The Phantom Menace. Yous will hear some people say that pod racing is an interesting idea with poor execution in the moving picture. You'll hear other people say that that unique vision of racing is best captured in LucasArts Nintendo 64 game, Star Wars Episode I: Racer. The Nintendo 64's graphics don't offering the best draw altitude for vehicles roaring at breakneck speeds, just the sense of speed is brilliantly captured, turning any narrow straightaway or hairpin plough into a nerve-racking and immensely satisfying experience.

Along with Anakin's familiar pod, Racer gives the states a improve look at his rival Sebulba (who is equipped with a boot-donkey flamethrower), and other lesser-known characters like Mars Guo, Boles Roor, and Bozzie Baranta. Racer also expands the size of the Star Wars universe with tracks scattered all beyond the creation. Players seeking an authentic experience can try playing the game with two controllers, ane for each of the pod's engines. This way of play is ridiculous and hard, but is adept for a express mirth.

With over 3 million copies sold, a sequel was released two years later, just the speed and claiming that made the original title and so enthralling was too profoundly reduced, resulting in a fast feel that ended upward feeling irksome. The series never got another shot after this.

11. Star Wars Battlefront

PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC – 2004

The thought of a Trade Federation Battle Droid attaining a sizable impale streak against the Republic may sound ridiculous, but information technology happens all of the time in Pandemic's Star Wars Battlefront. Players tin accommodate up as destroyer droids, wookiees, and hop into any vehicle on battlefields inspired past all of Star Wars' feature films.

Pandemic's pattern was ambitious at the time, most too much so equally most hardware couldn't handle the initial vision, which allowed 64-players to disharmonism on PC, 24 on Xbox, and merely 16 on PlayStation 2. Bots are used to fill out the conflicts on console, which thankfully retain Battlefront'due south ability to deliver chaos at all times. Most matches unfold like this: Spawn in a base of operations. Round a corner to observe an AT-AT raining burn down into a courtyard. Plow some other corner to see an AT-ST lumbering toward a control bespeak. Turn around again to notice a group of stormtroopers pouring into your base of operations. Die. Repeat.

Although spacecraft are a part of the mix, you oftentimes don't see them in the skies for long, as the horrendous vehicle controls often led to players crashing X-Wings and Necktie Fighters seconds after have off. Although 3 single-player modes are offered (campaign, Galactic Conquest, and Instant Action) these avenues of play don't hold involvement for long and feel 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 2, PlayStation iii, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP, PC – 2008

The name Starkiller likely carries a unlike meaning for you lot after The Strength Awakens, but for people playing video games in 2008, Starkiller equated to a level of Star Wars craziness we never thought we would run across. And if George Lucas truly cared virtually consistency in Star Wars catechism, we probably shouldn't have.

The Force Unleashed's first level shows Darth Vader in his prime number on Kashyyyk, cutting down and forcefulness-choking Wookiees with the ruthlessness we always heard about merely 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 impale the final of the Jedi. When the Emperor catches wind of Starkiller, Vader is forced to impale his acolyte, merely he doesn't have the heart to run across it through.

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

9. Star Wars: X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter

PC – 1997

After creating standalone games for X-Wing and TIE-Fighter, Totally Games did the adjacent logical thing: it united the two into a multiplayer-axial feel. X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter allows eight players to duke it out beyond 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 adequately shallow in content. Totally Games addressed this complaint through the release of Balance of Ability, an expansion pack that adds 15 missions, all supported with eight-player cooperative play.

8. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

PlayStation iv, Xbox One, PC – 2019

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was a return to form for the franchise in the video game space. For years, EA'southward multiplayer Battlefront series was the only major selection. 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 team behind the Titanfall franchise, was working on just that.

Ready in the years post-obit the infamous Order 66 that brought near the end of the Jedi Gild, players control Cal Kestis on a journeying to discover what happened that fateful day, his place in information technology, and where the remaining survivors can hopefully re-institute a Jedi Club. Featuring Souls-inspired combat, a fun array of Forcefulness powers, iconic locations, and more, Fallen Social club was exactly what Star Wars games needed. Now, it was quite buggy on release, and some elements of the game leave a little to be desired, but playing through Fallen Order is still a blast. It feels similar the original Assassin's Creed of its franchise, with the upcoming sequel hopefully fixing all of the get-go game'due south problems and making it a truly iconic series for years to come.

vii. Star Wars: Dark Forces

PC – 1995

One of the greatest touches in whatsoever 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 striking annihilation in the movies, and in Dark Forces, the player experiences that firsthand. This shooter came on the heels of Doom ushering in the showtime-person revolution for gaming, and was heralded at the time for its expanded movement, which includes the ability to hunker and jump.

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

6. 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 great example of the graphical leap betwixt gaming generations.

Building off of the success of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, this sequel offers an incredible campaign that pays homage to the battles from the classic trilogy of films just as much equally it gives fans neat new Star Wars content to absorb. The Battle of Hoth and the Death Star run showcase a boundless level of detail in the environments and vehicles. Rogue Leader also features significant gameplay enhancements over the original game, similar improved A.I. for Tie fighters that break off from their patrol squadrons if their numbers dwindle, too equally a camera that pulls back to highlight the intimate battle of a dogfight. Cistron 5 also finds a way to make the B-Fly (the oddest ship in Star Wars) fun to pilot.

Factor five establishes a fantastic formula for Star Wars infinite combat in Rogue Leader, just heedlessly 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 9.5 from Game informer. Two years later Rebel Strike netted just a half dozen.v.

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

Xbox, PC – 2004

Although development switched studios from BioWare to Obsidian Entertainment, the selection-driven bliss of the original Knights of the Old Republic RPG is alive and well in Sith Lords. Picking up five years later the fall of Lord Malak, the Sith Lords is another finely penned tale that offers deeper dialogue options, another dandy cast of characters, and plenty of alignment-specific variables.

Onetime Game Informereditor Joe Juba gave the game a glowing review back in the day, maxim "The Sith Lords is incommunicable to resist. Embracing the dark side, I twisted an apprentice to my corrupt volition, polluted the Strength with senseless slaughter, and was told by my loyal HK unit of measurement that I was like 'a delightful random cruelty generator.' Even more its predecessor, The Sith Lords provides countless opportunities for players to revel in the aftermath of their ain choices. Substantially, anyone who said that Obsidian couldn't alive up to the standards prepare by BioWare's first installment should be stuffing their mouths full of Bantha fodder right nearly now."

The Sith Lords' ending is heavily criticized, every bit the final sequence is left incomplete. Modders restored various pieces of content to piece together an experience closer to Obsidian'due south intended merely unexecuted vision.

four. Star Wars Battlefront II

PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC – 2005

In Star Wars Battlefront 2, developer Pandemic Studios delivers a Star Wars experience akin to playing with a box full of Hasbro Star Wars toys. The wide selection of vehicles, troopers, heroes, and villains collide on the battleground, and the role player can collaborate and play with it all at any given fourth dimension. This sequel stands alpine similar an AT-AT over its predecessor in terms of content and improving every aspect of play, most notably the vehicle controls – they can really be flown skillfully this fourth dimension around.

Additionally, a more fully featured unmarried-role player campaign shows Vader's prized 501st Legion in activity, and is a skilful deal of fun, even with footling in terms of narrative context. Holding truthful to its predecessor, the virtually fun in Battlefront 2 comes from the multiplayer commotion that unfolds across 12 maps on country and in infinite, allowing players to run and gun and then engage in amazing vehicle-based conflicts. Pandemic upps the number of players to 24 on PlayStation 2, 32 on Xbox, and PC remains the best artery of play with 64 at once.

3. Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast

PlayStation two, Xbox, GameCube, PC – 2002

Afterwards stumbling a bit with the lightsaber gameplay in Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces 2, Raven came back swinging in Jedi Outcast, a sequel that hones in on the finesse and power of the Jedi craft. Playing as a Jedi is as every bit empowering as information technology should be. Seeing Kyle transform from a character who would duck behind corners to exchange fire with Stormtroopers in the precursor titles to a full-fledged Jedi who stands unflinchingly in front of any foe to deflect their laser fire and manipulate their minds into lowering their weapons is cool to come across, and a rare evolution of a graphic symbol for a video game.

The thrills of unleashing Strength Lightning and leaping neat distances extends beyond the entrada to a wild multiplayer feel that allows upwards to 32 Jedi to battle it out on PC. The panel versions, while delivering excellent ports of the entrada, only support four-players in multiplayer, notwithstanding nonetheless manage to exist a Strength-powered riot.

2. Star Wars: X-Wing

PC – 1993

PC players were spoiled rotten in the 1990s. LucasArts was on burn 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's epic wars better than any game earlier it. Piloting an X-Fly from the showtime-person perspective is an enthralling experience that balances simplicity in combat with a complexity of transport management we rarely see in game's today. While the chief goal is to frame Necktie Fighters in the cantankerous hairs and fire, the actor as well has to manage the power allocation betwixt the engines, shields, and lasers. And yes, R2-D2 chirps noisily to your demands.

While lacking the multiplayer excitement of later entries in the serial, Ten-Fly stands out with its mission design and nicely balanced challenges. A true attestation to its excellence, Ten-Wing yet looks and plays remarkably well today, twenty-some years after its initial release.

1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Xbox, PC – 2003

If the Force flows through you, practice you marshal with the lite side and fight for the Republic, or turn to the nighttime side to learn the ancient ways of the Sith? BioWare's RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Quondam Democracy embraces this fantasy, letting the player become a feared Sith Lord or a virtuous Jedi. The path between these two factions often blurs, forcing the player to make difficult choices: Do you have information technology in yous to sacrifice one person for the greater good of the galaxy, or do your personal connections deject your judgment?

Although Knights of the Old Republic is no longer a canonical part of Disney's new Star Wars universe, the game's story gives united states of america a good look at the Sith in their prime number roughly iv,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire. BioWare does a fantastic job realizing this era and making information technology just equally mysterious and wonderful as the feature films. The bulk of the game delivered the sensation of journeying into the unknown, and giving us satisfying glimpses into lore that we've always wanted to know more about – such as the origins of the Sith and locations we've only heard mentioned before. The game as well tickles the fancy of Star Wars fans with familiar sights, sounds, beasts, and a vibe that never wavered from trying to be 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's remarkable writing.

Turn-based gainsay isn't the best fashion to show off a Jedi's acrobatic lightsaber skills, but Knights of the Old Commonwealth even so manages make these mythic figures await powerful. Skirmishes deliver simply much satisfying pick-driven options as the narrative, pushing the thespian to switch betwixt 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 9.five out of 10 dorsum in the day, calling it "a dream come up truthful for Star Wars fans."

Let us know what your favorite Star Wars games are in the comments below!