To help celebrate Star Wars day, here are some of our favourite Star Wars games!
The Star Wars universe is huge and has a lot of potential for amazing games of all genres. For example, the past Star Wars video games have included 1st / 3rd person Shooters, racing games, space battles and even real-time strategy games. The possibilities are endless with Star Wars themed games.
Recently we haven’t seen as many major, high budget Star Wars video games, outside of Electronic Arts’ Battlefront games. This is mainly because the Lucasarts game studio closed down a few years back. They published ALOT of Star Wars games over the last few decades. EA only started making more Star Wars games recently so it is only a matter of time before they announce some exciting new additions to the Star Wars gaming world. I am hoping EA announces some Single Player story focused games as well. Ideally I would love a new Star Wars open world RPG. EA has a fantastic graphics engine and audio engine they use for the modern Battlefront games. It would be amazing if this engine could be used in an offline story based RPG game as well.
This list only contains a select few games from the huge library of Star Wars video games. There are many other great Star Wars games that were released as well. It is worth noting that if you are a PC / Mac gamer, Steam and GOG both have big Star Wars related discounts available at the moment due to it being Star Wars day!
STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC
This amazing Star Wars RPG was developed by Bioware and published by LucasArts. Here is the cover art and synopsis:
It is four thousand years before the Galactic Empire and hundreds of Jedi Knights have fallen in battle against the ruthless Sith. You are the last hope of the Jedi Order. Can you master the awesome power of the Force on your quest to save the Republic? Or will you fall to the lure of the dark side? Hero or villain, savior or conqueror… you alone will determine the destiny of the entire galaxy! Features An epic Star Wars role-playing experience with unique characters, creatures, vehicles and planets. Learn to use the Force with over 40 different powers, plus build your own Lightsaber. Adventure through iconic Star Wars locations, including Tatooine and the Wookiee home world of Kashyyyk. Choose your party from nine customizable characters, including Twi’leks, Droids and Wookiees. Travel to seven enormous worlds in your own starship, the Ebon Hawk.
This game is actually still available to purchase on PC, Mac and IOS! Check out some screenshots (which were posted on the games Steam page):
This type of Star Wars game is exactly what I would like to see again in the near future. With the huge advancements in technology we have made, a new Star Wars RPG would have the potential to be amazing!
STAR WARS EPISODE 1: RACER
This was a super fun pod-racing game which released shortly after the Episode 1: The Phantom Menace movie. It was a lot of fun:
Climb on, strap in, and experience the pure adrenaline-pumping excitement of the Podracing sequence from STAR WARS™: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Take the controls as Anakin Skywalker, or any one of over 21 Podracers, and feel the full-force blast of two massive jet engines at simulated speeds of up to 600 mph. Rein in a turbine-driven chariot through 8 spectacular worlds. Negotiate through flaming methane lakes, Tusken Raider assaults, ant-gravity tunnels and much more in a pulse-punding, do-or-die fight to the finish where anyone will do anything to cross the finish line. How far will you go?
This game was recently re-released on GOG for PC players to purchase. It has been optimised for modern systems.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED 1 & 2
These are much more modern games which released in the last console generation and on PC. Both games featured an original Star Wars storyline and had some great action focused, modern gameplay. I really enjoyed these games as the story let you play as a Sith and the character felt darker than some of the other Star Wars characters:
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force to epic proportions. Players are cast into the role of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller, who has been trained to hunt down and destroy Jedi. During his quest, Starkiller will ally himself with a most unlikely set of heroes and be forced to make decisions that could change the course of his destiny and set events in motion that will forever shape the galaxy! By incorporating two ground-breaking technologies, Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) and euphoria, and paired with the powerful Havok physics system, players will interact with their environments and battle against enemies in new and exciting ways. Couple those technological advancements with devastating lightsaber attack combos, over-the-top Force powers like Force Grip and Force Repulse, and a storyline that takes place in the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed provides a Star Wars gaming experience the likes of which have never been seen before.
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 2 (Classic 2005 Version)
This is one of my favourite Star Wars games of all time! It has a great single player mode and had an amazing multiplayer experience packed full of features. This is truly a classic Star Wars game and is still available on PC through Steam, GOG etc:
Join the rise of Darth Vader’s elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers as you fight through an all new story-based saga where every action you take impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy.
Now for the first time, Star Wars Battlefront II lets you…
- Fight as a Jedi – Earn the ability to wield a lightsaber and use Force powers like Yoda, Darth Vader and many other heroes and villains.
- Battle in Space – Dogfight in X-wings, TIE fighters, Jedi starfighters and other classic starcraft, or land your ship on a star destroyer and fight it out on foot aboard enemy ships.
- Play 16 New Locations – Battle across Star Wars: Episode III environments such as Utapau, Mustafar and the epic space battle above Coruscant.
This game had amazing ground battles in a variety of locations such as Hoth. It even had great space battles where you could have intense aerial encounters and could even land inside enemy ship hangars and attack them on foot. I spent countless hours in this game. You could even play a lot of the huge battles on your own with AI teammates and enemies. This was a lot of fun and really did feel like a true Star Wars experience. The game also spanned multiple Star Wars movies so there was a huge range of special characters you could play as.
STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE (PC / PS1 Game)
Although this game had mixed reactions, I personally really enjoyed it and replayed it multiple times when I got it. I was quite young when this game released in 1999 / 2000. It was one of my first Star Wars games and will always have the nostalgia value for me. I particularly enjoyed the levels which felt semi open world. For example, one level took place on Tattooine where Qui Gon must find Anakin Skywalker to repair his ship. This involved the ability to explore the town and surrounding areas. It even had various smaller side quests to complete which would appear at certain locations as you passed by. The player would have to acquire certain items through using Jedi mind tricks and negotiations as well as by force if necessary. Some of these levels did not require a lot of combat. This slower pace felt refreshing and let the player explore the levels.
The story is basically the same as the Phantom Menace movie but is stretched out in certain parts for gaming purposes. It also offers a different view on certain parts of the movie. For example, it lets you explore more of the underwater Gungan city than the movie shows. When I played this as a child, I really enjoyed this aspect of the game. I personally played it on PC at the time but it was also available on the original PlayStation:
STAR WARS EMPIRE AT WAR (2006)
This was an exciting real-time strategy Star Wars game also published by Lucasarts. Here is some artwork and the synopsis:
Star Wars Empire at War:
From the lives of soldiers to the deaths of planets, you are the supreme galactic commander. It is a time of galactic civil war. Take up the reins of the Rebellion or assume control for the Empire. Whichever you choose, it will be up to YOU to steer your side to ultimate victory. Command everything from individual troops to starships and even the mighty Death Star as you execute campaigns on the ground, in space and across the galaxy. Forget tedious resource gathering – just jump straight into the heart of the action. You can even change Star Wars history! Every decision affects your next battle and every battle helps shape the fate of the galaxy.
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Conquer or liberate over 80 ground and space locations including Kashyyyk, Tatooine and Dagobah – each with its own strategic advantage.
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Command iconic Star Wars characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Boba Fett.
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Pit X-wings against TIE fighters or command an entire fleet of Star Destroyers in space. Then send down land forces to secure the planet below.
There is a GOLD EDITION currently available on Steam and GOG which includes the full game and it’s expansion packs all in one package.
STAR WARS JEDI KNIGHT – Jedi Academy
This is a great 1st / 3rd person game which focuses on lightsaber combat. It was released in 2003 originally. It is part of the amazing Star Wars Jedi Knight series of games.
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the latest installment of the highly acclaimed Jedi Knight series. Take on the role of a new student eager to learn the ways of the Force from Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Interact with famous Star Wars characters in many classic Star Wars locations as you face the ultimate choice: fight for good and freedom on the light side or follow the path of power and evil to the dark side.
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Customize your character by defining both look and gender before entering the Academy to learn the power-and dangers- of the Force. Construct your own Lightsaber from handle to blade. As you progress, discover the power of wielding two Lightsabers or the ultimate double-bladed Lightsaber made famous by Darth Maul.
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New vehicles, weapons, force powers and Star Wars locations. Unique level selection system allows you to choose your own missions and adventures. Six multiplayer modes including team based siege mode and two-on-one power duel. Fight in 23 multiplayer arenas!
In conclusion, I hope this post showcased the various types of Star Wars games we used to have in the Lucasarts days. The future of Star Wars gaming has the potential to beat this. I am looking forward to seeing what EA announce in relation to Star Wars at this years E3 conference!
Have a great Star Wars Day – MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!!!
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