Disney’s stewardship of the Star Wars franchise is a constant source of debate among fans. However, it’s difficult to claim that any Star Wars film released in the last two decades has reached the same level as the original movies created by George Lucas. The sequels produced under Disney have been particularly controversial, with different directors and a lack of a unified plan leading to a disjointed and unfocused story. Because of this, many Star Wars fans haven’t embraced the sequels as official canon, often viewing them as fan-made stories rather than integral parts of the Star Wars universe.
If you’re not a fan of the newer Disney-era Star Wars films (though some, like Rogue One and Andor, are exceptions), you might find these games more in line with George Lucas’ original vision. They either continue the story after Return of the Jedi in a satisfying way, or expand on events and characters from the original movies – and they do it well. Simply put, these games understand the Star Wars universe better than the sequel trilogy and are worth playing, either for the first time or as a revisit. This isn’t a list of the best Star Wars games overall, but rather the ones that feel most connected to the original films – in terms of setting, characters, key events, and themes – for dedicated fans.
This list highlights games that directly follow the story or are closely tied to the events of the original Star Wars trilogy. I’ve left out games based on the newer sequels, like Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and Star Wars: Battlefront 2. To keep things concise, I’ve included only one game from each series.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy
Direct Continuation of the Original Star Wars Trilogy
Released in the early 2000s, Star Wars: Jedi Knight was a hugely popular game that let players experience the thrill of being a Jedi, with impressive lightsaber battles. The game continues the story directly after the original Star Wars trilogy, following Luke Skywalker as he establishes a new Jedi academy and trains a new generation of Jedi. Many fans feel it captures the spirit of the original films even better than the later sequels.
The first two games in the series let you play as Kyle Katarn, but in Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy, you create your own character and Katarn becomes your instructor. You’ll explore several planets, battling Dark Jedi and Imperial forces to help the New Republic. The game has a branching storyline, letting you choose between the Light and Dark sides, which affects the ending you receive. However, what really stands out is the combat – even today, Jedi Academy is considered one of the best Star Wars games for lightsaber fights.
Star Wars: Squadrons
The Best Way to Become a Pilot in the Post-Endor Period
If you’d rather fly spaceships than be a Jedi, Star Wars: Squadrons is one of the best choices out there, and it’s frequently on sale for a steep discount (currently 90% off on Steam until May 7th). Originally developed as part of Battlefront 2, Squadrons focuses entirely on thrilling spaceship combat. It boasts stunning graphics and sound, fully immersing you in the Star Wars universe with a realistic and detailed experience, and it’s completely separate from the newer sequel movies.
Star Wars: Squadrons offers both a story-driven single-player campaign and exciting multiplayer battles. You’ll experience the galactic conflict from both the New Republic and Imperial sides, flying famous ships like the X-Wing and TIE Fighter. The game takes place right after the Battle of Endor, making it one of the few official Star Wars games set entirely after the original movies. While the story isn’t the game’s strongest point, the incredibly realistic and immersive piloting experience makes it a worthwhile purchase.
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Star Wars: Empire at War
Command Large-Scale Armies Throughout the Original Trilogy Timeline
With no new Star Wars strategy games currently in development, Star Wars: Empire at War still stands out as a fantastic choice for fans. Despite being an older game, it’s easily accessible and offers large-scale space and ground battles throughout the Star Wars galaxy. The game is deeply connected to the original trilogy, taking place during the Galactic Civil War and leading directly into the events of A New Hope.
In Star Wars: Empire at War, players can choose to play through two different campaigns, taking control of either the powerful Galactic Empire or the courageous Rebel Alliance. Beyond the main story, a favorite part of the game is the Galactic Conquest mode, which lets players continue the Star Wars saga throughout the original trilogy and even after the events of Return of the Jedi. In this mode, you manage the entire galaxy, claiming planets for their resources and advantages, building up your fleets and armies, and battling on famous Star Wars worlds like Tatooine, Hoth, and Endor.
Star Wars Outlaws
Criminal Underworld of the Trilogy Era at Its Finest
The recently released Star Wars Outlaws is the first truly open-world game in the Star Wars universe, but it had a rocky start with players. Launched during a difficult period for Ubisoft, it felt rushed at first. However, the developers have fixed most of the technical problems and added new content, making Star Wars Outlaws a much more enjoyable experience now. The game is set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and focuses on the world of crime instead of the usual Jedi storyline. It cleverly incorporates familiar characters like Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian, and Boba Fett into its outlaw-focused narrative.
While the story in Star Wars Outlaws is fairly typical, the game truly shines because of its beautiful worlds – like Toshara, Kijimi, Akiva, and Tatooine. These planets are incredibly detailed and expansive, making Outlaws the most visually immersive Star Wars game yet. If you want to really feel like you’re part of the Star Wars universe, this game is hard to beat.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Missing Story Link Before the Original Trilogy That Feels Essential
For those who are really dedicated to the original Star Wars films, Jedi: Fallen Order is a bit of a unique case. It’s essentially a backstory to those movies, showing what happened right after the devastating Order 66. However, it’s one of the best games to explore this period, so even the most devoted fans should enjoy it. You play as Cal Kestis, a young Jedi Padawan just beginning his struggle against the Empire and learning what it means to be a Jedi. The game offers a large, cinematic adventure across the galaxy, with appearances from characters like Tarfful and even Darth Vader.
Honestly, what I loved most about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was how it really felt like a classic Star Wars adventure. The story was packed with action, and the planets you explore are amazing. Plus, the lightsaber fights are super satisfying, and there’s a lot of cool platforming to get around. They nailed the atmosphere of that Star Wars era – everything from the ships to the enemies, like Stormtroopers and those scary Inquisitors, felt spot-on. It really puts your skills to the test with some tough boss fights. And good news – like Squadrons, it’s currently 80% off on Steam until May 7th, so it’s a great time to pick it up!
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2026-05-03 01:39