Growing up in the 90s, like a lot of kids, I was a huge Star Wars fan. Back then, we mostly watched the movies over and over on VHS, since that was all we had. I wasn’t really into the comics or books, even though some of my friends were. I did enjoy playing the video games based on the movies, especially the really difficult ones on the SNES. But around the mid-90s and early 2000s, video games started getting a lot better in terms of quality.
When there weren’t any new Star Wars movies, or when the movies weren’t very good, playing video games helped me cope and stay connected to the franchise. Although some of those games don’t seem as great now, they really got me through some difficult periods as a fan.
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Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire
A Big Event For The Franchise
Released in 1983, Star Wars: Episode 6 – Return of the Jedi was followed by a long wait for fans – the next film, Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, didn’t arrive until 1999. To keep fans engaged, a series of books were published in the interim. In 1996, LucasArts created a large-scale event with the N64 game Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, complete with action figures and a novel. This project was designed to feel like a major cinematic release, and it proved to be a significant hit with many kids during the N64’s first year.
I didn’t own a Nintendo 64 as a kid, but luckily I got to play Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire at my cousin’s house, and it completely amazed me. The new character, Dash Rendar, felt like a fresh take on Han Solo, the shooting was fun, and the vehicle sections were especially exciting. It was a relatively short game, which made it feel complete – like a self-contained Star Wars story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Looking back, it doesn’t really stand up to modern games, but I still remember it fondly as a key moment in realizing that Star Wars could thrive outside of the films. If you’re interested, it’s available on Steam for a low price and runs well on the Steam Deck.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
A Prequel That Worked
Released in 2003, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic came at a time when fans were feeling let down by the first two Star Wars prequel films and the games based on them. Interestingly, many found these games, including Knights of the Old Republic, more enjoyable. This game stood out because it wasn’t tied to the recent storylines, taking place thousands of years before the movies and proving that a Star Wars prequel could be great. It depicted a time when both the Jedi and Sith were powerful. Players begin by creating a character who wakes up with amnesia, is rescued, and then journeys to a Jedi temple to discover their connection to the Force.
Players were encouraged to become a Jedi in the game, but they also had a lot of freedom to shape the story, even choosing to embrace the dark side. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was a remarkably open-ended experience and the first true role-playing game in the Star Wars franchise. Its strong writing, memorable characters, and straightforward combat still make it enjoyable today. Like many games of that era, I first experienced it at a friend’s house – completing it on his Xbox, thankfully without him interfering with my progress! It was also the game that made me a dedicated fan of BioWare, a developer I’ve followed ever since.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2
Conquering The Galaxy And My Heart
Of all the Star Wars games out there, I’m most obsessed with Star Wars: Battlefront 2. While other games might be technically better, this one really clicked with my friends and me when it came out in 2005. It launched shortly after Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith, and really leaned into the Clone Wars – something the prequel films actually did well. The Clone Wars were perfect for a video game because the story wasn’t super strict between the second and third movies. The Clone Troopers were the heroes, and since they were clones, there was plenty of ‘cannon fodder’ for exciting gameplay.
I really enjoyed the Clone Wars content in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, but the game also let you play as either the Rebels or the Empire from the original trilogy. My favorite part was Galactic Conquest – it was similar to the board game Risk, where you moved armies across planets and space to conquer the galaxy. I was thrilled when the game was re-released in 2024 as the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. It definitely shows its age, but it still brings back great memories of playing late into the night on my PS2, either by myself or with friends, all while drinking Code Red soda.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The Dark Side Of The Force
Released in 2008, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed aimed to revitalize the gaming side of the franchise, falling between the prequel and sequel film eras. Although flawed, it uniquely allowed players to experience the galaxy as an exceptionally strong, and somewhat ethically flexible, Jedi. While previous games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic featured dark-side characters, the RPG format and combat style made it difficult to fully realize the feeling of unrestrained power, unlike The Force Unleashed.
In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, you play as Starkiller, Darth Vader’s hidden apprentice, who was ultimately ordered for execution. However, Starkiller managed to escape and, while evading capture, used his powerful Jedi abilities to defeat enemies in creative ways – slicing through stormtroopers, tossing them from heights, or even controlling their minds. Though the game was relatively short, it was an exciting experience, especially when I first played it on the PS3. I didn’t enjoy the sequel as much, as it complicated the story. But as a standalone action game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed effectively filled the gap between the prequel and original Star Wars trilogies when it was released.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Cal’s Journey Continues
Similar to the earlier prequel films, the newest Star Wars trilogy was a bit uneven. While people generally enjoyed the first two movies, 2019’s Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Rise of Skywalker didn’t quite satisfy many fans, including myself. That same year, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order came out, and though critics and fans mostly liked it, I personally didn’t enjoy it as much. The game had a promising idea – following Jedi apprentice Cal Kestis before the events of the original trilogy – but the way it was made didn’t fully deliver. Both the movie and the game contributed to a decline in my enthusiasm for Star Wars in 2019.
I was genuinely impressed by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in 2023. It completely pulled me out of a gaming slump and addressed almost everything I disliked about the first game. The planets felt much more expansive, the gameplay was more accessible, and Cal Kestis matured into a more capable and less frustrating hero. It struck a great balance between exciting action and adventurous exploration, rewarding players for discovering hidden secrets. I’m already eager for the next installment, because Cal is quickly becoming one of the most compelling Jedi characters in recent Star Wars games.
Star Wars Outlaws
An Underworld In The Open World
I played Star Wars Outlaws soon after enjoying Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in 2024, and I was still really excited about Star Wars games at the time. While there have been rogue-like characters in Star Wars before – like Dash in Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire – that game was a shooter, which is typical for most Star Wars titles. They’re usually either shooting games or action games focused on Jedi. That’s why Star Wars Outlaws really appealed to me – it proved that a stealth-focused Star Wars game centered around the criminal underworld could be successful.
Like a lot of fans, I was really disappointed when Star Wars 1313 was canceled. Star Wars Outlaws felt like the closest we’ve gotten to that experience. The game features large, open-world planets and a unique system where you can build alliances with different crime bosses – or work against them – giving you a lot of freedom in how you complete missions and explore. It was also fantastic to play as a female lead, Kay Vess, in a Star Wars game, which doesn’t happen often. In my opinion, the game’s portrayal of the criminal underworld was even more compelling than what the movie Solo: A Star Wars Story attempted, so I’m really hoping Ubisoft will create a sequel.
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2026-05-02 19:07