The 15 Best Star Wars Games You Have to Play

To this day, Star Wars remains one of the biggest multimedia franchises of all time. It’s a series that spans multiple generations, with three trilogies of stories telling the tale of the Skywalker family. Naturally, the success of the movies has led to a ton of video games based on the franchise, with the quality often being a mixed bag.

To make things simple, we’ve taken a look at every Star Wars title ever made, whittling it down to the 15 games you absolutely have to play.

15. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (2002)

A tie-in game for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, 2002’s Star Wars: Bounty Hunter put players in the shoes of Jango Fett, the Mandalorian template for the series’ clone army. It was the first time gamers had ever been able to play as a bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe, with this third-person adventure game allowing players to travel the galaxy, completing missions and capturing bounties along the way. While reviews at the time were initially mixed, players have certainly come around to appreciate this experience for what it is.

To this day, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter remains a unique experience in the series, with nothing quite capturing the level of freedom this PlayStation 2/GameCube title had to offer. Naturally, some areas of the title are firmly rooted in 2002 game design, with a steep difficulty curve that comes as a massive shock to the system while playing. Still, we think this offers plenty of worthwhile content for Star Wars fans to sink their teeth into.

14. Star Wars: Squadrons (2020)

2020’s Star Wars: Squadrons is a space combat game set after Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The game focuses exclusively on dogfighting, expanding on the flight mechanics first established in 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront II. Gameplay is entirely first-person, with the game not holding back on the complex UI, resulting in a tough but rewarding experience for those willing to learn the nitty-gritty details. It even supports VR play, creating one of the best space-combat experiences to date.

Star Wars: Squadrons allows players to hop into their favorite starfighters from the movies, including the iconic TIE Fighter and the X-Wing, among others. With a single-player campaign and multiplayer combat to choose from, there’s plenty of content here to keep you busy for a while. The influence of the old Star Wars: X-Wing games is clear for all to see here, but with the benefit of modern technology, we think Squadrons is even better.

13. Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011)

Let’s be honest: a Star Wars MMO is a fan of the franchise’s dream. Set in the iconic Old Republic time period of the series’ Legends timeline, Star Wars: The Old Republic lets gamers choose their own path in the universe. Will you be a Jedi, or follow the way of the Dark Side? You could even choose the life of a smuggler or bounty hunter. The best part is that each of these classes has its own unique storyline, allowing for an enormous amount of replayability with new characters.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a game with a storied history. Player reception was generally worse than the critics’ opinions upon its release in 2011, leading to a decline in subscriptions and an eventual move to free-to-play. Still, BioWare never gave up on the game, with numerous expansions in the years since, the most recent of which coming in 2022. Nowadays, it’s considered one of the best MMOs around, showing impressive staying power in a genre where titles frequently promise the world before disappearing in disappointment. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this is a must-play.

12. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is all about the power fantasy of being a Sith. Have you ever tried to Force-pull the television remote to yourself from the comfort of your couch? This one’s for you. The game takes place between Episodes III and IV, as Darth Vader continues his Jedi purge across the galaxy. You play as Starkiller, a secret apprentice of Vader’s who is incredibly strong in the Force and sent to hunt down the remaining Jedi in hiding.

The game plays as a third-person action game, with your lightsaber and the Force as your only weapons. But powerful weapons they are, as you hack and slash your way through legions of stormtroopers and various alien species across the galaxy. There are a ton of ways to upgrade your powers, only furthering the Force-based power trip the game creates. It even rewards you for different playstyles. Sure, you can run in with your lightsaber gung-ho, but you’ll have a tougher time than if you took a careful approach. Yes, the gameplay feels a little clunky nowadays, but Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is still more than worth your time.

11. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022)

Ever since the first Lego Star Wars game back in 2005, gamers have loved the series’ unique sense of humor and distinct gameplay. 2022’s Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the culmination of those efforts, being the largest-scale title to date, spanning all nine films in the main film series. On top of this, it also features DLC for spin-off films Rogue One and Solo, as well as TV series The Mandalorian, Rebels, The Clone Wars, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

What separates The Skywalker Saga from every other Lego Star Wars game is its levels. In previous games, levels were linear, with players needing to complete them in order after selecting them from a single hub area such as the Mos Eisley Cantina. In this game, you can select any episode you’d like, in any order. The hub world is replaced with numerous fully-explorable planets from the Star Wars series, giving the game an open-world feel. This open world features various quests to complete, massively increasing the amount of content.

Although we think there’s one Lego Star Wars game that has it beat, The Skywalker Saga is a worthy addition to the series. As far as bang for your buck goes, it’s hard to argue with the game on offer here.

10. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (1997)

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II is absolutely one of the games from 1997 you should still be playing. The game is a single-player adventure set one year after Return of the Jedi, following Force-sensitive mercenary Kyle Katarn as he begins his journey through the Light and Dark Side.

The game is mostly played in first-person, but you can choose to play from third-person, as you make your way through a linear story mode to complete a series of objectives in each level. You choose how you approach each situation. Is a blaster the right weapon for the job? Or will you use your lightsaber to quickly cut down your enemies? Surprisingly, your choices have consequences, too. Throughout the game, you acquire Force skill points. You can use these points in either Light or Dark Side skill paths, which affect the ending of the game.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II doesn’t do anything in a particularly special manner, but it’s a solid entry in the series. Its aged gameplay has a ton of charm, and luckily, it still feels extremely fun to play in the modern era.

9. Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

We know what you’re thinking. “Didn’t everyone hate Star Wars Battlefront II?” Well, yes. On its release, the monetization strategy made this game intensely controversial, with players needing to part with absurd amounts of money to play as core characters such as Darth Vader. Luckily, EA quickly backtracked on this and, in the years since, has worked to make Battlefront II one of the best Star Wars games ever.

As for the gameplay itself, it’s the Battlefront you know and love. Large-scale action across all three Star Wars trilogies, with you put in the shoes of a boots-on-the-ground soldier as you fight on some of the most iconic planets from the series. Hero gameplay returns, with more characters than ever to choose from. For example, play as Obi-Wan Kenobi on the rainy planet of Kamino, or lead Kylo Ren on a purge on Takodana. The choice is in your hands, with 22 heroes from across the franchise featured in total.

All of this so far doesn’t even touch on the space combat, which is remarkably complex considering how little of the gameplay it takes up. Do yourself a favor – don’t be swayed by the older reviews: give Star Wars Battlefront II a try.

8. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007)

This is Lego Star Wars perfection. The Complete Saga allows players to experience Episodes I – VI of the epic saga in a series of linear levels. Here, you’ll complete various puzzles and discover different collectibles as you work your way through every film in the series as of 2007. Levels even have locked areas that can be explored using other characters unlocked later in the game, encouraging plenty of replayability.

The highlight of Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is its timeless slapstick humor. In every single cutscene, dialogue is replaced with physical comedy, bringing the most famous scenes from the movies to life with a hilarious twist. Newer Lego games have taken to voiced dialogue, a controversial decision considering the popularity of the slapstick elements.

There is no doubt about it: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is the best game in the series. It strikes the perfect balance between content bloat and a lack of things to do, while the mechanics themselves are complex enough to be fun for all ages. You’ve got to give this one a go.

7. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

BioWare’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a remarkable piece of work. The 2003 RPG manages to capture the feeling of unlocking Force sensitivity perfectly. You play as Revan, a Force-sensitive looking to reclaim their memories. The game would establish many BioWare staples that would go on to become so important to the studio’s titles in later years.

The most important mechanic is its element of choice. Every decision has a consequence, and for some characters, you’re making life-or-death choices. However, the real stars of the show are the characters. During your adventure, you’ll travel with a few different companions, and throughout the game, each goes through their own story as the main plot progresses. Each character feels alive within the story and adds to the experience massively.

Like its sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best RPGs ever made. For fans of the genre, it’s an essential experience.

6. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019)

As the first third-person action-adventure game from Respawn, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order arrived with high expectations. No one knew quite what to expect from the game, which follows Order 66 survivor Cal Kestis as he attempts to escape the Jedi purge from the Galactic Empire. What no one expected was a Star Wars Souls-like, taking gamers on a galaxy-wide adventure while offering a keen challenge.

The lightsaber combat is at the heart of the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order experience. It’s more complex than anything prior to it, and until its sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, is the most accurate portrayal of the Jedi Knight experience. Initially, Force powers are extremely limited. However, as protagonist Cal reconnects with the Force, more abilities become available to him. Not only does this increase the complexity of the combat, but it also unlocks areas of each planet previously locked to the player. Every planet offers the facade of an open-world experience, but is designed to funnel the player exactly where it wants them to be. It is a phenomenal game design, only bettered by its sequel.

If nothing else, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is worth playing if you plan on picking up its successor. It’s one of the best Star Wars stories in years, and you’re missing out if you don’t give it a try.

5. Star Wars: Republic Commando (2005)

Star Wars: Republic Commando is one of a kind. This tactical shooter sees you fill the boots of a Clone Commando RC-1138, the leader of Delta Squad, as they complete various missions throughout the early days of the Clone Wars. The entire game is played in first-person, although this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill shooter. You have a large amount of control over your teammates in Delta Squad, using an order system to assign them specific roles on the battlefield. This gives every engagement with Separatist Battle Droids its own flavor, as you need to adapt to different enemy types.

It remains the only game of its type in the Star Wars franchise, and has become a cult classic in the years since its release. So, Disney – sequel when?

4. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)

There’s just something about 2005’s Star Wars: Battlefront II that hits differently. The 2017 version of Battlefront II is great, but there’s a beautiful simplicity to the original, which still holds up today. The gameplay concept is extremely familiar – massive amounts of action on some of Star Wars‘ most iconic battlefields. It’s the first game in the series to feature Hero combat, and while it may not be as complex as the newer titles, it’s every bit as fun.

In terms of game modes, there are a few to choose from. The story mode follows the 501st Legion of clone troopers in the final days of the Republic into the early years of the Galactic Empire. Meanwhile, Instant Action allows you to play any map you’d like in a one-off battle. Finally, there’s Galactic Conquest, in which players engage in a galaxy-wide tug of war for control of each planet.

If you’re planning on playing Star Wars: Battlefront II nowadays, we’d recommend the PC version. The game retains a dedicated modding community that continues to add a ton of new content, including maps and characters from newer Star Wars media. Considering how cheap it can be picked up nowadays, you’ve got to give Star Wars: Battlefront II a try.

3. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (2003)

Two words: lightsaber combat. The third-person action title Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is famous for its remarkably complex lightsaber duels, which underline the entire experience. Previous Jedi Knight games were more of a hybrid between blaster combat and lightsaber fights, but the melee duels take center stage here. It’s truly brilliant, with various saber fighting styles that change how you approach battles.

There are a few ways to play Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy nowadays. Of course, the single-player campaign remains, allowing you to create your own Jedi and learn under Kyle Katarn. However, the multiplayer still remains active over two decades after its release, again with a focus on the lightsaber battles. This is mostly due to the Movie Duels mod, which allows gamers to replay their favorite lightsaber battles from all nine Star Wars films. If you’re going to give the game a try, we’d recommend you install this alongside it.

2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (2004)

This is as good as it gets for Star Wars RPGs. As the sequel to Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords had a lot to live up to. BioWare’s 2004 title managed it with ease, knowing exactly what to change and what to keep the same from its predecessor.

The game’s combat systems are practically identical to the original, keeping the real-time combat defined by the d20 system. During combat, you have a ton of new Force powers available, as well as new lightsaber forms not present in the first game. You have full customization over your character and get to choose how they respond to every piece of dialogue. Your choices matter throughout the story, as your character swings between the Dark and Light Side of the Force, influencing their traveling companions along the way. They won’t always agree with your decisions, and it’s up to you to see if you can convince them to continue with you on your quest.

All in all, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a classic BioWare RPG at its core. Quests, decisions, and even romances – it’s all there. Not only is it one of the best Star Wars games ever made, but it’s one of the greatest RPGs ever, too.

1. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023)

Simply put, the best Star Wars video game ever made. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to Fallen Order, and improves upon its predecessor in every way possible. The game continues the story of Order 66 survivor Cal Kestis, as he continues his fight against the Empire alongside his ragtag group of rebels.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor plays much like the original game, as a third-person action-adventure title featuring numerous hub worlds that encourage and reward exploration. Areas even have the potential to open up further when revisiting later in the game with new abilities. The Souls-like gameplay returns, making combat a huge challenge, although it does add various lightsaber stances to change up how you can approach combat. The same goes for Force powers, too, with more on offer here than in Fallen Order. What really sets Star Wars Jedi: Survivor apart from its predecessor is the massive amount of quality-of-life changes, making it a near-perfect experience.

With its mature story and best-in-class gameplay, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a triumph. It’s a game that all Star Wars fans must play, even those disillusioned by the franchise’s offerings in recent years. In a word, stunning.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Electronic Arts.