Star Wars is one of the biggest and most famous media franchises ever. There are movies, TV shows, streaming services, novels, comics, and video games. While it all started with the films, Star Wars games have been around for almost as long. The earliest ones were released in the late 70s, and fans still get games based on the franchise today.
They all vary heavily in quality as they range from terrible to incredible. The latter group deserves most of the attention. Yet, it isn't possible to highlight every good Star Wars game at once. You can only focus on the absolute best, which are the following ones.
9 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The Force Unleashed puts you in the shoes of Starkiller, who is the promising apprentice of Darth Vader. Under his master's orders, he travels the galaxy to rid the world of the remaining Jedis. So, it serves as a bridge between the first two movie trilogies.
The story is fascinating, but what makes the title truly stand out is the combat. The Force Unleashed really makes you feel like an incredibly powerful Force user, perhaps more than any other Star Wars game.
8 Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast
The Jedi Knight series follows one of the best Star Wars video game characters, Kyle Katarn. In Jedi Outcast, he is a former Jedi turned mercenary working for the New Republic. He has to return to his Jedi ways, though, to stand a chance at completing his mission.
Both Kyle's mercenary and Jedi ways feature in combat, as you can use firearms or a lightsaber. You also have some force powers to use against the enemies. What's most interesting, though, is you get to decide between playing in first or third person.
7 Star Wars: Republic Commando
The main movies are mostly about Jedis and Sith Lords. The Clone Troopers are also in some, but they're effectively background characters. However, they get their time to shine in Republic Commando. More specifically, a special ops team known as Delta Squad gets its time to shine as it goes on various missions.
The game is a tactical FPS where you play as the leader of the team and can bark out orders to your crew. Yet, you're not a hands-off leader - you're in the thick of the fighting, too.
6 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Jedi: Fallen Order follows young Jedi Cal Kestis as he gets thrust back into the Jedi and Sith conflict after years in hiding. This is in a post-Order 66 world, where the Jedi are being hunted down. As such, Cal needs to survive battles with Stormtroopers and Inquisitors as he attempts to help out what's left of the Jedi Order.
It makes for a captivating narrative filled with strong vocal performances. The gameplay is equally as solid, as the combat, climbing, and puzzle-solving are all a lot of fun.
5 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
There are plenty of great Lego games, and there are many fantastic Star Wars games. Some of the best in either category are the wonderful Lego Star Wars games. The Skywalker Saga is the biggest of them all, as it's a deep re-telling of the three main movie trilogies.
While playing through, you control all sorts of characters from the franchise. Some play quite differently from others, too, since Princess Leia isn't a similar combatant to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Whoever you're controlling, it's third-person fun.
4 Star Wars: Battlefront 2
The campaign of 2005's Battlefront 2 takes you through several important battles from the Star Wars universe. And it's all told from the perspective of a clone trooper. The story isn't the aspect of this game that people love, though. After all, Battlefront 2 earned its fame due to its wonderful multiplayer.
Each match pairs rival factions against one another. Regardless of which team you're on, you get to select a class, and your goal is to defeat the other team in whatever game type you're playing. Sometimes you get the chance to play as a faction hero, who is always one of the main characters in the franchise, such as Han Solo or Darth Vader.
3 Star Wars: The Old Republic
The Old Republic is an MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe. The exact story depends on which class you choose to play. Not only do you select your character class, but you also pick your faction between the Galatic Republic and the Sith Empire. Yet, your choice doesn't lock you into being good or bad. Morality is more blurred in this title than in most Star Wars media.
Like the story, the combat differs depending on your class. You can choose characters who prefer to use the Force, lightsabers, or blasters. When you aren't fighting, you're making choices and exploring.
2 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Jedi: Survivor takes place a few years after Fallen Order and features a more experienced Cal Kestis. However, he still remains the underdog in his mission, as he attempts to do damage to the almighty Empire. Throughout the escapade, you meet all sorts of wild and wonderful characters that add to the overall experience.
Outside of meeting new friends, you solve plenty of clever puzzles and do a fair bit of climbing. Most importantly, though, you get into some exciting battles against many different types of enemies.
1 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Knights Of The Old Republic boasts one of the best Star Wars stories ever. In it, a Sith Lord known as Darth Malak is causing severe problems for the Galatic Empire. One of the few people who can take him on is the amnesiac protagonist, who is piecing together his own past in the process.
During your journey, you meet all sorts of people and make many different decisions. Some choices have short-term effects, while several severely shape the person you are. Occasionally, things turn violent, and you need to battle foes in a unique form of turn-based fighting. Admittedly, the combat doesn't hold up as well as the exceptional storytelling and writing.