May the 4th be with you! If you are a die-hard fan of the Star Wars franchise, then you surely already know what are the best Star Wars games you can play on PC today. However, there are also those young gamers who are yet to become fans of that saga, and may not know what games are already available out there. In this article we’ll review the best Star Wars games you can play on PC, and we’ll also reflect a bit on the future of the franchise.
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Today is the day of the Star Wars franchise and the Force has inspired us to make a list of the best Star Wars games you can currently play. We are aware that Star Wars fans already know which games are of good quality, but the situation is such that certain game genres have not seen quality Star Wars games for a long time. As Lucas (now Disney) universe is constantly attracting new generations of fans, it’s not bad to introduce these new generations to some old hits that can offer a more fun Star Wars experience than newer movies.
We will update and expand this article over time. After one dry period, several Star Wars titles are currently being made and one day it will be interesting to see which of them will deserve a place on the list of the best. We have divided the list by game genres, and we have two recommendations for each: one main and one alternative, in case you already know the main one. So, let’s go in order.
1. Action Adventure Games
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
This is the best modern game that conveys the feeling of handling a lightsaber and controlling the Force. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has a small level of free exploration on various planets, but it is strongest in scripted segments, some of which will pump up your adrenaline and stay in your memory forever. Here we primarily mean the epic finale that every Star Wars fan should experience. And the good thing is that it still looks great today (thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 4) and is fairly good optimized on PC.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy
We weighed a lot about whether the alternative title for this category should be Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, but the older Jedi Knight still holds quite well, and was an extraordinary game at the time. The specificity of this series is that it gives the player the opportunity to choose the side of light or darkness. Jedi Academy may not be the most famous game in the Jedi Knight series, but we think it is the most accessible in today’s terms and fits well with the motif of duality between Jedi and Sith, and bases its whole story on it.
2. Role-Playing Games
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (1 & 2)
Speaking of which, hardly anything can surpass the Knights of the Old Republic games. Their specialty is that their original plot takes place even earlier than “A long time ago”. They are an ideal play for absorbing and expanding knowledge about the Star Wars universe, and the second part has one of the better Star Wars villains. Gameplay is a bit outdated, though, but it can be modified if you play the PC version. Otherwise – wait for the remake of the first part, which is currently in development.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Once the most expensive game ever made, it is actually a completely solid MMORPG that is still alive today. Although The Old Republic never became a “WoW killer” after its launch, over time it has become quite a substantial title that you can enjoy without the company of other players. It costs you nothing to try this – the game is free to play, you just have to play it on the PC platform because it is not available elsewhere.
3. First & Third-Person Shooters
Star Wars Battlefront II
Around this game, spears were broken when it came out. Forcing loot boxes and microtransactions did not make Star Wars fans happy. The backlash was quite big, so the developer and publisher of the game gave in after a while and eventually made Battlefront II a very decent shooter. Subsequent content updates made it even better, so it is definitely worth giving this game a second chance. It is focused primarily on multiplayer modes, but it also has a short campaign, as well as offline battle modes with bots. Another big plus is that the game features beautiful graphics, and the sound score is great.
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Definitely one of the most unique and authentic Star Wars games. As the name suggests, Republic Commando puts you in the role of leader of the elite Stormtrooper unit. The game allows you to give orders to your squadmates, and there is also a lot of action-packed shooting. Deep sense of immersion is also reinforced with the unique HUD design, since all of the HUD elements are render on the screen as if you are physically wearing the stormtrooper helmet.
4. Platformers
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Currently the latest game on offer. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a great choice for cooperative enjoyment of Star Wars series. The game retells all nine films in a simple and humorous way, but beyond that it also provides exploration of a large number of planets, various mini-games and a bunch of Easter eggs that Star Wars fans will appreciate. If you don’t mind LEGO in this combination and don’t like the games to be particularly challenging, with Skywalker Saga you just can’t miss it.
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
An alternative to LEGO Star Wars game is… another LEGO Star Wars game! As the above mentioned game retells all nine movies, there is really no reason replaying older LEGO Star Wars games. However, there is only one game that deals with the Clone Wars animated series. It has 20 missions and 40 optional bonus levels, distinctive humor and split screen multiplayer. So if you get tired of Skywalker Saga, this is a game you should check out.
5. Strategy games
Star Wars: Empire at War
By far the best strategy game in the world of Star Wars. Although it is 16 years old, this game is still interesting to play with its classic loop of gathering resources, building bases and armies, and warfare. You can choose the side with the rebels or the Empire, and occasionally you get to know famous characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Palpatine. Be sure to check out the Steam version, which has built-in support for modifications.
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Saga
This is a strategy for fans of classic 2D titles, in the style of Age of Empires or Stronghold. The Galactic Battlegrounds Saga takes place during the second episode, primarily on land. The game definitely has charm in its retro show and we always give it an advantage over mobile Star Wars games that are also of the strategic genre. At least you don’t have to worry about microtransactions here.
6. Flying and racing games
Star Wars Squadrons
The best modern Star Wars game focused on flying. It is graphically beautiful and true to the atmosphere of Star Wars, and everything goes to a higher level if you can experience it in virtual reality on PC or PlayStation VR. Unfortunately, after short time it can get boring, but if you are fan of flying games, it will keep you playing for hours.
Star Wars Episode I Racer
A game based on a single sub-racing sequence from Phantom Menace. Its visuals are outdated for today’s terms, but the gameplay itself is still relatively entertaining. You can get additional fun in the version for Nintendo Switch, which allows you to take control by tilting the controller.