Star Wars is not in a great place right now. Neither are its games. In the decade-plus that Disney has helmed the franchise, we’ve seen very few new releases, most of which have ranged from painfully average to outright slop. Are you bored of all this garbage? Star Wars has a rich Expanded Universe with plenty of games to check out. Here are a few classic titles to whet your whistle if modern Star Wars leaves you dry and unsatisfied.
Didn’t like Star Wars: Squadrons?
Try TIE Fighter
The X-Wing Trilogy, counterintuitively, spans four different games, though one is multiplayer only. Most fans agree that TIE Fighter was the peak of Lawrence Holland’s legendary space combat sims. One of the best in the genre to this very day.
You play as Maarek Stele, a rookie TIE pilot working his way up through the ranks of the Imperial Navy. Serving under the legendary admiral Thrawn, you’ll be thrown into the cockpit of the bad guys’ most iconic fighters. Become part of Palpatine’s inner circle as you blast Rebel scum and take down corrupt officers, for the glory of the Empire.
TIE Fighter consists of several challenging missions which either have you destroying specific targets or escorting other vessels. Combat takes place from a first-person cockpit view. The keys to victory involve learning to outmaneuver your opponents in this non-Newtonian free-flight environment and managing your power levels. Your ship has finite energy output, so you must balance engine performance with keeping your shields and lasers charged.
The game’s sequel, X-Wing: Alliance, combines quality-of-life improvements, adds more ships, and a built-in multiplayer mode. It also still has an active modding community, overhauling almost every vessel. While it’s worth checking out, there’s something about playing as the villain.
TIE Fighter is available on PC via GOG or Steam for $10 USD.
Didn’t like Battlefront I & II?
Try Battlefront I & II (Classic)
Wait, what? Yes, there are two sets of games under the same name. The latter of which were released in the mid-2000s by Pandemic Studios. Much like their newer EA-developed counterparts, they’re multiplayer arena shooters. Each game lets you jump into the role of troopers from either the Rebel Alliance, Galactic Empire, CIS, or Republic factions as you fight in grueling land battles across the galaxy’s most memorable locations. Unlock iconic hero characters to fight by your side as you lead your squad to victory.
The second game in the series adds space combat and a rich campaign where you fight as the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, from their beginnings in the Clone Wars right up to the Battle of Endor.
These are still solid battle arena games, and unlike their more modern counterparts, they have no microtransactions, nor grueling grinding to unlock heroes. A galactic conquest mode also adds depth to both the single and multiplayer experiences. Despite their age, they still have an active community. I recommend sticking to the individual classic games on PC, rather than the bundle that came out a couple of years ago. Not only is this remaster bundle more expensive, but its servers are reportedly dead.
Battlefront (Classic) I & II are available on GOG and Steam for $10 USD each.
Didn’t like Star Wars: Outlaws?
Try Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
There isn’t an analogue out there for Outlaws, given its gameplay style became popularized late in LucasArts’ life. However, if you’re looking for action-adventure shooters you can’t go wrong with Dark Forces. You play as fan favourite character (and beard aficionado) Kyle Katarn as he blasts his way across the galaxy, fighting whatever scum and villainy it can throw at him.
When discussing this series, most people will say the second game, Jedi Knight, is the best. However, I went with its sequel Jedi Outcast for a variety of reasons. For one, I just like it a lot. Second, I think its graphics have aged a lot better. Third, it’s a lot more accessible to modern gamers.
Kyle, fearing the power he wields, hung up his lightsaber and has gone back to working as a mercenary. When his partner Jan gets murdered during a mission gone wrong, by a new Sith lord no less, he visits Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to rediscover his powers, and prevent a new Sith cult from taking root in the galaxy.
This pre-Gears first-person shooter plays a lot like BioShock, complete with secondary Force powers you can use to get the upper hand on your enemies. Alongside a lightsaber, you’ll also have a range of traditional weapons from blasters to disruptors, and thermal detonators to help get the upper hand. While they may be uncivilized, there’s no denying the strengths of a ranged weapon. It also still has some of the best lightsaber combat in the series, perhaps only being eclipsed by Jedi: Fallen Order.
You can find Jedi Knight II on Steam and GOG for $10. It’s also available on Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. If you enjoy it, I also recommend picking up Jedi Academy. It’s more of the same, which is never a bad thing.
