Ranking the 10 best Star Wars video games of all-time

The Star Wars film franchise has been so successful at building an enormous allegiance that fans will completely consume themselves in anything from books to toys – and even video games.

While there have been over fifty Star Wars video games released on consoles from the Atari to the PlayStation 4, not all have been a success. To help steer Star Wars gamers in the right direction, here is my list ranking the 10 best Star Wars video games of all time.

10. Galactic Battlegrounds

Console: PC
Released: 2001

Starting out this list is a less-popular Star Wars video game but nevertheless, worth mentioning. Prior to the current fad of battle royale games that every developer is trying to perfect, there was a time when every gamer was obsessed with turn-based strategy games made popular by StarCraft. Due to this surge in RTS games, there was no franchise more worthy than Star Wars – with its widely recognizable characters and locations. Although the final product of this game didn’t quite live up to the hype of StarCraft or Age of Empires, the 2001 Galactic Battlegrounds immersed its users in the Star Wars universe – exploring classic battles as a galactic general.

9. Republic Commando

Console: Xbox
Released: 2005

One of the best aspects that the prequel trilogy provided to fans were the clones. Due to their popularity, it should come as no surprise that a tactical first-person shooter revolving around Clone Troopers was bound to be delivered. In Republic Commando, users get to play as an elite group of Clone Troopers at the start of the Clone Wars. It was a bold decision to release a FPS Star Wars game that didn’t include a single Jedi but this turned out to be a great combat game that explored the power of the blaster instead of the lightsaber.

8. The Force Unleashed

Console: Xbox 360, Playstation 2 & 3, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS
Released: 2008

Prior to the transition from LucasArts to Disney, fans were able to explored the Expanded Universe of Star Wars in The Force Unleashed. In the untold story of Starkiller, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, users were able to hunt down remaining Jedi by using incredible force abilities. This game was one of the best in terms of enjoyed playability as a Sith – with a powerful force pull, fun lightsaber combos and even the classic force lightning. While The Force Unleashed was a fun game to play, it suffered greatly from its disappointingly short campaign mode rather than exploring its full potential – a mistake its sequel didn’t learn from.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 12: A first look of “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” onstage during Spike TV’s 7th Annual Video Game Awards at the Nokia Event Deck at LA Live on December 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

7. Rogue Squadron

Console: Nintendo 64
Released: 1998

Released just prior to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Rogue Squadron is an excellent tribute to the original trilogy in a time forever lost to the image of Jar Jar Binks. Taking place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, users were able to play as Luke Skywalker flying through worlds in an X-Wing, A-Wing, Y-Wing and even Naboo Fighter.

As one of the first games to use the N64 expansion pack, Rogue Squadron became one of the most popular games on the console – ranking among GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario 64. Revolving around every major space battle in the original trilogy, this game felt like one of the few perfectly designed for the odd-shaped N64 controller and is surprisingly re-playable even to this day.

6. Episode I: Racer

Console: Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast
Released: 1999

Although The Phantom Menace is widely considered one of the worst Star Wars movies ever made, it produced one of the most surprisingly enjoyable video games. While one would assume a video game about Episode I would have revolved around a young Obi Wan or even Darth Maul, Episode I: Racer chose to focus on a side story from the film – podracing.

By offering all 21 of the racers that would have otherwise been forgotten from the movie, players are able to explore the unseen world of podracing. Episode I: Racer is still enjoyable today and was arguably the second-best racing game, behind Mario Kart, on the N64 – a console notorious for excellent racing games.

5. Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

Console: GameCube, Xbox
Released: 2002

Focusing on one character’s path to becoming a Jedi, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast follows the story of Kyle Katarn as he battles the Dark Jedi, Desann. Picking up from the original Jedi Knight game, users play as a former Jedi who was nearly succumbed to the Dark Side but has since become a mercenary for the New Republic.

Outperforming even The Force Unleashed – a much newer game – Jedi Outcast offers users some of the most enjoyable to play lightsaber and Force powers that have ever been released. Jedi Knight II gave players exactly what they wanted from a Star Wars video game, the experience of becoming a Jedi.

4. The Old Republic

Console: PC
Released: 2011

The extreme popularity of games like World of Warcraft birthed the MMO obsession in gaming which lead to one of the best Star Wars games ever created, The Old Republic. SWTOR was one of the best games at making you feel like you were actually part of the Star Wars universe and regardless of which path you chose; every story was excellent. As one of the most replayable role-playing games still do this day, BioWare Austin set a standard with this Star Wars MMORPG. Although it might not be the highest ranked RPG Star Wars game, that only proves how great the KotOR series is, because this game is a blast.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

3. Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lord

Console: Xbox
Released: 2004

Only a year after the original KotOR, Obsidian Entertainment released one of the best Star Wars game ever created, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lord. This RPG is a continuation of the original story as users play as The Exile. A Jedi Knight fittingly named for his exile from the Jedi Order. This best part about these KotOR games are the in-game choices that have a massive effect on the character’s journey. This allows the player full control whether they want to be part of the Light or Dark Side of the Force. In arguably the best setting of the Expanded Universe, KotOR II: The Sith Lord is a must-play for not only Star Wars fans but RPG fans as well.

2. Battlefront II (2005)

Console: PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox
Released: 2005

Don’t get triggered just yet; I’m not referring to EA’s lootbox-disaster of a game franchise. I’m talking about the best Star Wars shooter of all time, Battlefront II from Pandemic Studios. Although the first Battlefront game was good, the second included so much amazing new content from characters to maps. This game had one of the best campaigns ever created as players followed the story of the infamous 501s legion – or Vader’s Fist – during the rise of the Empire.

Mainly focused on playing as a Clone, Battlefront II even allowed friends to combat each other with a wide variety of Jedi and Sith characters in one of the best multiplayer game modes of all time, Hero Assault. It’s funny how gamers grew tired of the 2017 Battlefront II in months yet 14 years later, the far superior Battlefront II gives gamers a reason to hold on to their Xbox.

1. Knights of the Old Republic

Console: Xbox
Released: 2003

Put simply, Knights of the Old Republic is not only the best Star Wars game of all time but easily one of the best RPG games ever made. Released in 2003, KotOR consumed many teenager’s weekends and late nights for months on their Xbox. Introducing the concept of a player not only being fully part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe but more importantly, choosing between the Light or Dark Side of the Force, KofOR was revolutionary.

Not only was the gameplay excellent but it had such a good story that it actually rivals the film franchise. With the most iconic characters ever introduced in the Expanded Universe, no story has been more demanded by fans for a film than this. Regardless of if you are a gamer – or even Star Wars fan for that matter – Knights of the Old Republic can be enjoyed by anyone.

What is your favorite Star Wars video game? Hit the comments and let us know.