Summary
Along with providing the world of cinema with several notable classics, theStar Warsfranchise has contributed many exciting products to the world of gaming. Starting with Atari’s 1982 adaptation ofThe Empire Strikes Back,Star Warsgames have grown and prospered over the decades, eventually leading to several gaming classics.
While plenty of these games have gone about transporting the film’s stories to the gaming medium, others have greatly expanded the series' universe and lore. Focusing on tales from before, during, and after the films' events, these games have led to franchises of their own thanks to their gameplay, storytelling, and visual elements to create a memorable experience for new and longtime fans.
Updated on June 08, 2025, by Melody MacReady:Almost fifty years later, Star Wars continues to be an important universe for many generations, whether they grew up with the originals, the prequels, the sequels, or even the shows. As technology has advanced, more video game developers have taken on the task of immersing players into the world of Star Wars with dozens of games out there, ranging from cheap plug-and-play games to AAA titles. UbiSoft has recently delivered Star Wars Outlaws to fans and more games are coming in the future, including Quantic Dream’s Star Wars Eclipse and the third Star Wars Jedi game from Respawn Entertainment. The games continue to expand on the lore while giving fans different ways of playing as a Jedi, trooper, stormtrooper, smuggler, and any other role in the universe.
In the 90s, many first-person shooters were madeto capitalize on the hype ofDoom, andStar Wars: Dark Forcesis no different, with the player running around blasting any stormtrooper or other enemies in sight to get to the end of the level. However, Dark Forces had one improvement overDoom, as it was one of the first games to feature free-aiming with the mouse for more accuracy.
The story focuses on an ex-imperial named Kyle Katarn in a non-canon story as he and his partner Jan work together to retrieve the Death Star plans, thus setting up the plot forStar Wars: A New Hope. Dark Forces proved to be a major success, with many surprised by how much of a challenge it was to complete; it would lead to a trilogy of games, two spin-offs, and a deserved remaster.
Set ten years before the events ofStar Wars: Attack of the Clones,Star Wars:Bounty Hunterfollows former Mandalorian Jango Fett as he locks horns with a variety of Force-related threats. Getting tangled up in a web of the villainous Count Dooku, Fett is set on an inevitable collision course with the deadly Dark Jedi, Komari Vosa.
Not only do players learn a great deal more about both bounty hunting and organized crime in theStar Warsuniverse, but they also get to discover how Jango Fett acquired his famed ship and why he became the basis of the Clone Army. Additionally, it provides fans with a bit more development of Jango Fett, one of the more underrated villains of the franchise.
Players take the role of a gutsy smuggler in the same vein as Han Solo named Dash Rendar inStar Wars: Shadows Of The Empire, during the original trilogy, meeting some of the classic characters along the way. Across four chapters, Rendar gives players a look into additional, world-building non-canon events that went on off-screen during the original films.
The narrative neatly blends in with familiar events from the films whilst also providing its distinct adventures. Despite the outdated controls and an awkward camera,Shadows Of The Empireis praised for delivering something unique for its time, ranging from thrilling aerial warfare to ground-based shootouts, ensuring players remain engaged across a variety of dangerous action setpieces.
On the one hand,Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2delivered better gameplay than the first one thanks to its twin lightsaber combat that made Starkiller feel even more like Kratos fromGod Of War. The lightsaber combat combined with visuals ahead of their time and even more powerful force abilities leads to some of the most fun in aStar Warsgame, especiallywith the different lightsaber colorsproviding different perks.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, the rushed development cycle results in so much cut content thatThe Force Unleashed 2can be beaten in less than two hours, ending when the story feels like it’s only reached the halfway point. This led to the game being a disappointment to many fans. Even the challenge mode and DLC weren’t enough to extend the playthrough of the game that much.
Of the games released in tandem with 1999’sThe Phantom Menace, it’s safe to sayStar Wars Episode 1: Racerproved more seminal than the direct film adaptation. Inspired by the popular Tatooine pod-racing scene from the film, the game provides players with a thrilling, difficult, and fast-paced experience.
Along with the Tatooine racetrack from the film,Racercomes with a diverse array of other planetary settings for players to enjoy speeding through. Its large range of customizable features, attention to detail, and references to the source material all add to what made this a near-flawless racing experience at the time.
The absurdly overpowered Starkiller makes for one ofStar Warsgaming’s most exciting action heroes inStar Wars: The Force Unleashed. Introduced as the secret apprentice of Darth Vader in the years betweenRevenge of the SithandA New Hope, Garen Malek can bring down starships with the Force and crush Rancors with Force lightning.
The storyline follows his gradual path away from the Galactic Empire, as he finds a new purpose in helping form the early days of the Rebel Alliance. With colorful characters, memorable takes on both Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, and two completely different endings to choose from,The Force Unleashedis a fun, often thrilling gaming experience forStar Warsfans.
This rewarding epicblends real-time strategy thrillswith classicStar Warsaction and storytelling. Players are thrust into a high-stakes war inStar Wars: Empire At War, with the game taking place in the period betweenRevenge of the SithandA New Hope.Empire At Warallows players to take control of armies on both sides of the conflict in grand-scale, epic conflicts throughout the galaxy.
The explosive tactical game succeeds in immersing players further in the wonders of theStar Warsuniverse. There’s also considerable replay value thanks to three different game modes to discover: Skirmish, Campaign, and Galactic Conquest. With its epic battles and commitment to the spirit of the source material,Empire At Warwas a hit with fans and critics alike at the time of its release.
The original entry in theStar Wars: Battlefrontseries opened the door to a whole new world ofStar Warsgaming. Throwing players right into the thick of a variety of conflicts from both the original and prequel trilogies, the game zeroes in on the soldiers on the ground. The result is a blend between the fantastical thrills ofStar Warsand the tactical intensity of more conventional shooter games.
With four major armies to serve in multiplayer mode,Battlefrontquickly proved to be a hit with players, spawning a sequel and a reboot series in the years after its release. While the more iconic characters are not the focus, the game’s emphasis on infantry and warfare sets it apart as the rare occasion on whichStar Warsfans get to appreciate the true stress of having to serve as a stormtrooper.
BeforeThe Bad Batchgave fans a ragtag team of unique clones,Star Wars: Republic Commandodid it first. It tells the story of Delta Squad and their exploits during the Clone Wars up to the events of Revenge Of The Sith. The concept of the Commandos became so beloved by fans that they would eventually be introduced in canon, even sporting the designs from the game.
Additionally,Star Wars: Republic Commandoprovides gamers with a unique squad-based first-person shooter, where the player not only has to monitor their own character but the status of the other commandos on the team as well. This includes telling them to focus on defense, sniping, charging, and other tactics needed to complete all levels in the short but sweet campaign.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2is often considered an improvement in nearly every way, from the inclusion of more iconic heroes and villains as playable characters to having even better maps from across the original and prequel movies. It also included an original story, focusing on the exploits of the 501st Legion during the Clone Wars and when the Republic became the Empire.
Even when the rebootedBattlefrontgames came out, there were still dedicated fans keeping the online community forStar Wars: Battlefront 2thriving. It’s a testament to what Pandemic Studios delivered, taking everything that made the first game so beloved and simply improving on it while refining it to create a sequel that is still played two decades later.
