TOP 5 STAR WARS games you absolutely must try!
When I say Star Wars, I instantly think of childhood, fantasy, adventure, relaxation, passion, fascination, imagination… and the list goes on.
I grew up with it and I love George Lucas’s universe, for better or worse, from one corner of the galaxy to the other. Okay, I do make a few small exceptions — like The Acolyte, which, honestly, it’s a good thing it was cancelled. But let’s get back to what really interests us: games! Without getting too cringey in the descriptions (after all, we’re talking about Star Wars – who hasn’t heard of “that guy who breathed heavily and was his dad”?), I’ll get straight to the point.
Because May the 4th is a very special day for fans of the galaxy far, far away, I’ve put together a dedicated article recommending a few Star Wars games that are very dear to me. Initially, I wanted to make a Top 4 – you know, May the 4th… But then I thought: let’s not break tradition and not be the smart arse who changes the recipe. If I’ve accustomed you to solid 7s, then that’s how it stays: 5 Star Wars games you absolutely must try — if not today, on Star Wars Day, then at least once in your awesome gamer lives! Let’s go, boys!
5. Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Release date: 4 June 1999
Developer: LucasArts, Aspyr
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Adrenaline, speed, horsepower and engine noise. If you didn’t know what this was about, you’d say we were talking about a Need for Speed. Well… we’re not far from the truth. Star Wars Episode I: Racer is one of the most awesome racing games ever released.
It’s hard to believe that such an entertaining title — and one that still looks respectable — was released… hold on… 26 years ago! Wow. It feels like yesterday I was playing it at the “internet café” in Săveni, as we called it in our gang. For 2 lei an hour, which was the price back then, you could create the coolest memories. I didn’t catch it right in its release year, because I didn’t have a PC (and anyway, it wouldn’t have run on the 486 my parents bought in 2002), but I’m convinced it would have been a delight to play it after leaving the cinema, freshly impressed by The Phantom Menace. The game faithfully recreates the podracers race on Tatooine, where young Anakin Skywalker shows off his piloting skills. Not only was it well-built, but it’s also one of the few Star Wars games dedicated exclusively to racing. A new concept at the time — and one that worked perfectly.
An honest arcade racer that shouldn’t be missing from your old-school systems. It runs flawlessly on Windows XP (tested by me and DOSboi Aidan), but also on modern consoles like PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The guys at Aspyr did an excellent job with the re-release. Even though I already had it on PC, I was thrilled to be able to play it on one of my favourite consoles — the Switch. Not only does it run well, but it feels right at home. Played with a controller or even with the Joy-Cons, Episode I: Racer is an old-school gem that no Star Wars fan should be without.
4. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Release date: 16 September 2008
Developer: Lucas Arts, Aspyr
Available on: PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo Switch
In 4th place on today’s list is a game that blew my mind in 2008. It simply looked incredible. It was one of the most spectacular titles I had played up to that point. At least the first level, which served more as a tutorial, seemed superb to me. Those who played it know exactly what I’m talking about. How could it not be maximum badass when you press the “Start Game” button and, in the next second, you’re in Darth Vader’s shoes – angry, full-power, destroying everything in your path just by extending your hand and, obviously, using the dark side of the Force?
The Force Unleashed had a perfectly chosen title. Even though you had a lot of lightsaber combat, the real star of the game was the use of the Force. And, speaking of things well done, let’s not forget the actor who gave voice and face to the protagonist Starkiller – Sam Witwer. The story didn’t blow me away, but the gameplay, full of explosive action, completely captivated my attention. I happily replayed it when I bought my first console: a superb Xbox 360. I remember that the port to the “green team” console was quite successful. It was the first time I played The Force Unleashed at a constant frame rate, because, previously, when I had tried it on PC, the experience had been quite tortured due to outdated hardware. Years later, when the guys at Aspyr decided to bless us with a kind of remaster for Nintendo Switch, I didn’t hesitate too long and bought it on day one. I still have it installed, but unfortunately I haven’t managed to finish it – I always found myself distracted by other titles.
What’s interesting about the Switch port is that the version chosen as the basis for optimisation wasn’t the Xbox 360 or PC version, but the Wii and PS2 variant. You might say: “So what? It’s still Force Unleashed, isn’t it?” Well… not quite. We’re talking about a period when ports weren’t at all uniform, as they are today. In 2008, titles were still being released for PS2, even though PS3 and Xbox 360 were already on the market. And due to the large differences in processing power, some games had to be heavily optimised or even completely rewritten. That’s how what we got from Aspyr for the Switch was a game with textures and resolution worthy of a modern console, but different from the version I knew from PC and Xbox 360. If you ask me, yes, it’s a technically weaker version – but that’s precisely what made the investment even more worthwhile. Because I had the opportunity to rediscover a familiar game, but in a new presentation and with a different attitude.
That being said, I encourage you to discover it too, if you have a Switch at home. Especially since the price is very friendly. Happy gaming!
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Release date: 19 November 2003
Developer: BioWare, Aspyr
Available on: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
What Star Wars top would it be without mentioning one of the best RPGs ever made – Knights of the Old Republic? Unfortunately, I didn’t play it at launch, because in 2003 I was busy with another Star Wars title. It wasn’t until 2008 that I got my hands on it — but I remember going to my neighbour and best childhood friend, Emi, and watching him play. I thought it was incredibly cool.
Strange perhaps, but the graphics didn’t attract me. I was fascinated by the story and the classic RPG style: how you interact with NPCs, how you choose your answers, how you develop your character, how you choose your armour… Everything. My problem was the lack of a dedicated graphics card and the need for 3D acceleration. Yes, I know, sad. But every day when I went out with Emi, I bombarded him with questions about KOTOR. For me, it was like I was playing it too – only the images were running in my head. A kind of interactive audiobook, like a primitive AI that you were allowed to ask questions and get free spoilers from. It was also through Emi’s stories that I learned about The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. He had a cam-rip CD of the movie (good era), and I still didn’t have the promised PC, which was due to arrive a few months later. Today we’d call it a “spoiler,” but back then it was pure adventure and discovery. It’s precisely these memories that make Knights of the Old Republic even more special to me. When I finally managed to play it, on my new PC, it was wow. I knew the story, but the fact that I was the one living it — in front of the monitor, with my own choices — was magical. KOTOR remains, without a doubt, one of the best RPGs ever created, a title worthy of BioWare’s renown. It’s a shame that lately only the name has remained famous… (I’ll just say Veilguard and end the sentence).
Two years ago, I rediscovered KOTOR thanks to the re-release by Aspyr. I wouldn’t have thought it could play so well with a controller in hand, especially for someone used to mouse and keyboard. And yes — there are many moments in the game that, even now, remain absolutely epic, whether you know the ending or not.
If you haven’t played KOTOR yet, this is the sign you’ve been waiting for: Go. Play. Now. Enjoy!
2. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Release date: 5 April 2022
Developer: TT Games, Traveller’s Tales
Available on: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
For those who know me, it’s no secret that I’m a huge LEGO fan. And when the passion for Star Wars intertwines with the passion for LEGO… what could be more enjoyable? Perhaps the Skywalker Saga series. Just saying. I remember how, back in 2006, I sat for hours on tenterhooks after downloading Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy from “Pirate Bay” at 20 kb/s. The emotions were high until it installed, and after that I didn’t let go of the mouse and keyboard until I had collected almost all the LEGO pieces in the game. Although I loved it to bits, I never imagined that this series would become so popular and that, 19 years later, I would end up collecting a bunch of physical sets too. Enough with the nostalgia.
In 2nd place in my recommendations is the Skywalker Saga remake, the ultimate package when it comes to LEGO games in the Star Wars universe. You don’t even have to be a LEGO fan to have fun. The game is colourful, full of jokes, secrets, Easter eggs, legendary characters… what more can I say, it’s “the business,” as I like to say. The game has been out for a while and, if I’m not mistaken, it was free for a period on PS Plus Monthly. Anyway, you can find it at very good prices in most PS Store sales waves or even on Steam. Oh, and I remembered: it was also offered for free on Epic Games! So, if you have the habit (or tradition) of frequenting Tim Sweeney’s platform, there’s a good chance you already have it in your Epic library.
By the way, if you have a co-op partner, the experience becomes even more fun. The levels aren’t very long, but they’re excellent for replaying with different characters. The game largely follows the narrative thread of the films, but with plenty of LEGO-style banter.
I don’t know if I’ve managed to convince you to give it a go, but I certainly will be doing that today. I always have it installed on my PS5, because I find it perfect for playing with a controller. All I have to do is press a button on the remote and one on the DualSense — and I’m instantly transported to George Lucas’s galaxy, the one with lots of plastic bricks.
1. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Release date: 16 September 2003
Developer: Raven Software, Aspyr
Available on: PC, Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch
I don’t even know how to start the introductory paragraph. This game is simply precious to me. I know it’s not some gaming masterpiece and that, if you compare it to titles released in recent years, it doesn’t excel at anything. But to have played it in 2003, exactly during the release of the then “modern” trilogy… phew, what a feeling!
Jedi Academy was the first Star Wars game where you truly felt like a Jedi. If Hogwarts Legacy is considered the best wizard “simulator” in the Harry Potter universe, then, without a doubt, Jedi Academy is the most successful software product that puts you in the shoes of a young, “almost” Jedi knight, from the fascinating galaxy created by LucasArts. There have been recent attempts, but none have come close to the pure fun and satisfaction offered by this 2003 title. Perhaps only Jedi: Fallen Order tries something similar in style, but even it doesn’t manage to reach the level of “fun” in Jedi Academy.
As a little fun fact, the engine used by the developers was id Tech 3 — the same DNA as Quake III Arena, Call of Duty and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Perhaps that’s why it’s so great. If we look back through gaming history, we discover that LucasArts always had a special connection with id Software’s technology (see Dark Forces and DOOM).
Just like with The Force Unleashed, today’s top contender received a visual refresh in March 2020: multiplayer access, a small boost to textures and resolution, all good for a pleasant replay on PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch. Although I own both, I chose to play the Switch version — for portability and convenience. I can’t say there are major differences between the two versions, although the PS4 obviously has the advantage of hardware. For an old-school title, the small details matter very little. I don’t know if you have a game you constantly replay, once every few years. For me, that title is Jedi Academy. Its simplicity, combined with its authentic charm, makes it immortal in my eyes. It has action, a decent story, interesting level design, cool lightsaber fights, legendary characters like Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn… and even a double-bladed lightsaber, Darth Maul style. What’s not to like? I have two favourite missions. The first is on Tatooine, where you have to find parts to repair your ship. The second is the train mission, where you explore carriage by carriage until you reach the locomotive and stop it. The atmosphere is unique and I haven’t found it in any other Star Wars game. Yes, it feels like it’s from 2003, with all the limitations of that era, but it has more soul than many hyperrealistic games released today.
For me, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy not only earns its place in the top dedicated to this galactic celebration on May the 4th, but also holds the number 1 spot in my gamer heart. I’ll probably replay it for many years to come, with the same pleasure… and with increasing nostalgia. Hmm… maybe I should dedicate a small Retro article to it in a future issue of GRIND magazine.
There are certainly many other Star Wars titles that would have deserved to be on this list, but for me, at the moment, this is the form I consider relevant. I had pretty high hopes for a new title to blow me away (I’m looking at you, Outlaws), but it wasn’t to be. Nevertheless, I eagerly await any future game released with the blessing of the patrons at Disney.
I’m curious what your top 5 Star Wars games look like and how you celebrate May the 4th? Whether you spend it playing Oblivion Remastered, CS:GO, Fortnite or one of the titles mentioned above, or perhaps choosing a Star Wars movie or series, I send a warm message to all of you who have reached this final line:
May the Force be with you!
