After Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the Star Wars franchise saw a resurgence in activity. New films, TV shows, and comic books were released, but many Star Wars properties were decent at best—save for the games! In the video game realm, Star Wars has something exciting for everyone. There are MMOs, RPGs, shooters, and action games. You can enjoy big-budget AAA releases and 30-year-old classics that remain some of the best PC games ever made. If you yearn to grip a lightsaber or pilot a spaceship, purchase and download these recommended Star Wars titles.
Recommended by Our Editors
In 2015, publisher Electronic Arts sought to recapture the magic of Pandemic Studios’ Star Wars: Battlefront games from a decade earlier. The multiplayer shooter features large-scale battles and fantastic visuals that recall the classic films’ aesthetics. Even better, it lets you live out your movie fantasies by making Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Emperor Sheev Palpatine playable characters.
Star Wars: Battlefront (for PC) Review
Star Wars Battlefront II is remembered for its loot box controversy that led to Congress investigating whether or not microtransactions in video games should be considered gambling. However, once you remove all that—as publisher EA later did—you’re left with entertaining multiplayer modes, tight mechanics, and great graphics. The game builds upon its predecessor by including upgradeable character classes for soldiers and ships; 20 vs 20 objective-based fights; and a campaign mode that follows an Imperial officer from the aftermath of Return of the Jedi to the beginning of The Force Awakens.
Star Wars Battlefront II (for PC) Review
Before the first-person shooter genre became a streamlined theme park ride, Jedi Knight stood out from rivals due to its creative weapons (with secondary fire!), enormous levels, and NPCs. You could even play as a Jedi or Sith! However, the best part was modding your character, and then planting concussion mines on your friends in multiplayer mode.
Jedi Outcast evolves Jedi Knight’s lightsaber-swinging action by implementing different styles. You can be a speed demon, balanced fighter, or slow hulk. Factor in additional Force powers and combo attacks, and Outcast remains an excellent stormtrooper-slaying adventure.
With Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, developer Respawn took a break from multiplayer shooters to craft an awesome, single-player Star Wars adventure. Set between Episodes III and IV, Fallen Order lets you play as Cal Kestis, a former Jedi who must reembrace the Force to save the galaxy. This action title includes Dark Souls-like combat and Metroidvania-style level design. It feels as grand and eclectic as the movies that inspired it.—Jordan Minor
Star Wars properties no longer come with massive expectations, but the omnipresent entertainment juggernaut should at least be pretty good. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is more than that. It’s a top-tier, next-gen, AAA title that builds on its awesome predecessor by expanding the game world, offering deeper gear customization options, and introducing new skills and perks. Whether you love Star Wars, great games, or both, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor belongs in your library.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Review
Developer Bioware mapped the well-known Star Wars aesthetic onto an RPG set thousands of years before the movies to create a memorable adventure featuring a cool cast and an unforgettable narrative twist. The turn-based combat is a bit dated, but the behind-the-scenes tabletop roleplaying mechanics, dialogue-based alignment choices, and fantastic writing make this release the roleplaying benchmark of its time.—Matthew Buzzi
This distinctly darker and more brooding version of The Old Republic dealt with themes of loss, gray morality, and shades of the dark side. The tight development timeline resulted in infamously cut content, but developer Obsidian found ways to improve the formula (slowly converting your party members to the light or dark side was a compelling goal). Old Republic II isn’t as tight a package as its predecessor, but it has superior characters, equally good writing, and a melancholy atmosphere.—MB
Star Wars and MMO fans will find much to like in The Old Republic. It’s an immersive world featuring a satisfying narrative, exceptional combat, and rich character-building gameplay that is the online RPG standard.
Star Wars: The Old Republic (for PC) Review
Republic Commando is the best thing to come out of the prequel trilogy. You play as a likable squad of Clone Troopers who must shoot through bug-like Geonosians, order comrades to “slice” computers, and blow up everything in the name of the Republic. Although they’re clones, the crew members exhibit more personality than the live-action Qui-Gon, Mace Windu, and Padme.
Before the prequels were conceptualized, George Lucas and Lucasfilm planned to expand Star Wars lore in a big, multimedia project that spanned novels, comic books, and video games. Thus, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was born, a third-person shooter set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. You control Dash Rendar, a Han Solo-like mercenary involved with the newly emboldened Rebel Alliance. Although Shadows of the Empire’s place in the greater Star Wars canon is long lost, the Star Wars magic baked into the game’s DNA cannot be ignored.—Zackery Cuevas
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga packs all nine mainline films into a kid-friendly, open-world toybox. There are dozens of popular (and obscure) characters to collect, costumes to unlock, and starships to pilot. In addition, it lets you play as several characters in the Star Wars timeline. Take Boba Fett to Naboo, play as Darth Maul on Canto Bight, or be Poe Dameron on Hoth.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (for Nintendo Switch) Review
This spiritual successor to the X-Wing and TIE Fighter games is a dazzling, deep-space dogfighting experience. As the New Republic clashes with the remains of the Empire, you alternate between both sides of the conflict. That means you can step into the cockpit of many Star Wars spaceships, from TIE Interceptors to Y-Wing bombers. The arcade-style aerial controls are accessible to players unfamiliar with flight sims, while containing combat depth. You can even play in VR.—JM
Originally released on 3.5-inch floppies, TIE Fighter makes you feel like you control an Imperial vessel. Nearly every keyboard key has a purpose: regulating shields, controlling engines, and adjusting weaponry. Master such complexity and you’ll feel like an elite pilot. In fact, the Emperor will welcome you into his inner circle. The Special Edition includes the base game, plus two expansion packs: Defender of the Empire and Enemies of the Empire.
The Phantom Menace isn’t good, but the pod racing sequence is a blast. So, naturally, this well-made pod racing tie-in title remains just as memorable 25 years after its initial release. Featuring a wide array of race tracks and pod racers (including young Anakin Skywalker), the visceral, sci-fi racer remains a blast.—ZC
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