It’s finally Star Wars Day! Every May 4, every single nerd in the world gathers their Lucasfilm memorabilia and decides to universally proclaim their love (and sometimes discontent) for the Star Wars franchise. And that applies to games as well.
With that being said, the following are my five picks for my favorite Star Wars games of all time, in no particular (Jedi) order. These are entirely subjective, of course, so don’t grab your lightsabers and thermal detonators just yet. Minor spoilers ahead!
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Republic Commando was my go-to game back when I was a little kid. My grandma used to take me to the internet cafe for a couple of hours, and I’d boot this gem and start the game from scratch every single time.
Playing as a pre-Order 66 clone in the elite Delta Squad was a blast, and managing your team of commandos was an engaging experience, given how tactical you needed to think. Also, a game that deviates from Jedi-centric stories? Sign me up immediately.
Star Wars: Battlefront and Battlefront II (Classic)
I’m going to cheat on this entry because the original Battlefront games (2004 and 2005) captivated my Star Wars heart equally. The idea of taking part in the epic battles across the Republic and Empire eras was enough to sell me on these games, and the amount of time I invested in the battlefield might as well have warranted detention or other severe family consequences (sorry, Mom).
I can’t seem to pick the better of the two, if I’m being honest. But if I were to sit down with Han Solo and tell him how I’m excited to take him down, only to be shot to smithereens (first, by the way), I would pick the sequel, only because the 501st campaign is peak storytelling.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
As much as I loved Survivor, Fallen Order is still my favorite game out of the two. The trauma experienced by all Jedi who survived Order 66 is exceptionally laid out in Cal Kestis, a Padawan forced to hide and work as a scrapper after mind-controlled clones gun down his Master.
An action-adventure game with a Metroidvania DNA, Fallen Order is a masterclass in worldbuilding, level design, and narrative, with a combat system that puts it all together and provides the ultimate Star Wars experience, tears included.
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
I need to confess something: I played Jedi Outcast on a Mac. I know this might ban me from gaming forever, but still, the game became one of, if not my favorite, Star Wars game of my life.
Even though I skipped the previous entries of the Jedi Knight series, I had a flawless experience with the game. Starting with a blaster in close-quarter maps and moving all the way to Jedi Renaissance, all thanks to Kyle Katarn’s story arc, is an experience every gamer and Star Wars fan should go through.
What about Jedi Academy? I like it too, and it is arguably a bigger and more customizable game, but I find Jedi Outcast’s story to be much more compelling and engaging.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Finally, we have the pièce de résistance. Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) did the impossible: to make me love a turn-based RPG game (it is more complex than that, I know, but still).
You can pretty much forge your own path, whether Light or Dark, and each of your decisions matters. Not only that, but every companion who joins your party is memorable and loveable (even you, Juhani, you misunderstood queen). And, knowing full well I might be repeating myself, KOTOR just feels like Star Wars, man.
And that’s the list! Star Wars has been a thing for me ever since my father introduced me to the original trilogy, even before watching the prequels. And even though we might have seen better times, I’ll see myself visiting the desert planet of Tatooine or swinging a broom pretending it to be a lightsaber from time to time.
May the force be with you, always!
