With Star Wars Outlaws out now, we thought it was time we gave our ranking of the best Star Wars games another look. This franchise has spawned over 100 video games, dating all the way back to the release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1982 for the Atari 2600. Naturally, not every one of these titles has stood the test of time, so we figured we'd run the best Star Wars games through their paces and help you navigate the ones you should absolutely go back and play today.
Star Wars Outlaws is the most recent of the upcoming Star Wars games to launch, with this new game for 2024 finding its place on our list of the best Star Wars games because of its incredible sense of place and exceptional atmosphere – a game which lets you role-play as a scoundrel through the underworld of some of Star Wars' most beloved territories. Naturally, there's plenty of other styles of Star Wars games here to choose from including retro classics like Knights of the Old Republic to strategy gems like Empire at War. So keep on reading to find our ranking of the best Star Wars games you should play in 2024.
10. Star Wars Outlaws
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Released: 2024
Massive Entertainment may be best known for its work with The Division series, but the studio set out to deliver its most ambitious project to date in Star Wars Outlaws – the first open world adventure set in a galaxy far, far away. Outlaws puts you into the role of Kay Vess, a wannabe scoundrel who is dreaming of a better life beyond the Outer Rim territories. To achieve this you'll need to guide Vess through the underworld, meeting experts to organically improve her abilities and brokering uneasy alliances with Syndicates to build up her reputation. Outlaws is at its best when you're whipping across worlds like Kijimi and Tatooine on your speeder, or immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Akiva – living your best life in an incredibly faithful portrayal of the Star Wars universe set within the boundaries of the original trilogy.
RELATED: Star Wars Outlaws review: "An exceedingly fun Star Wars game that's hindered by poor stealth systems"
9. Star Wars: Empire at War
Developer: Petroglyph Games
Released: 2006
Star Wars: Empire at War is special. There was this little window of time where legendary film franchises were investing heavily in the real-time strategy genre, and thank the Force that they did because it gave us Empire at War. Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, you're charged with leading vast armies into massive-scale battles – sitting above the action to dictate the movements of your favorite Star Wars factions. The ground-wars were certainly fun and full of spectacle, but it was the awe-inspiring space battles which helped establish Empire at War as one of the best RTS games of its time. The genre has come a long way since 2005, but there's still plenty of fun to be had with this classic.
8. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Developer: BioWare
Released: 2011
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a true achievement. BioWare may have left Knights of the Old Republic behind to turn its attention to original IPs like Dragon Age, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect, but it never walked away from Star Wars entirely. In fact, this studio has been telling Star Wars stories for over a decade now, slowly expanding its own little corner of the universe with one of the best MMORPGs that you can play today. Sure, The Old Republic will always be fighting against the ghost of Star Wars Galaxies (you know, the original version) for some players out there, but the truth is that The Old Republic is one of the finest Star Wars roleplaying opportunities out there.
RELATED: BioWare reflect on the art of telling online Star Wars stories for a decade
7. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Released: 2019
When Respawn was founded in 2010, by much of the team responsible for making Call of Duty the behemoth that it is, the studio set its sights on redefining the FPS genre. That's why we were surprised to learn that Respawn was wading into a galaxy far, far away for a third-person action game which drew inspiration from action-RPGs and metroidvanias. We were even more surprised to discover just how fantastic Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was. This confident, and capable action game introduced the world to a new Star Wars hero, gave us plenty of space to explore lush alien worlds, and delivered the sort of tight lightsaber combat we had only ever dreamed of one day experiencing.
RELATED: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order review: "Gets what makes the series special"
6. Star Wars Jedi Knight 2 – Jedi Outcast
Developer: Raven Software
Released: 2002
Long before Respawn's Star Wars Jedi games set a new standard for third-person action games in the Star Wars universe, it was Star Wars Jedi Knight 2 – Jedi Outcast which was considered the gold standard. Raven Software brought about the return of Kyle Katarn – protagonist of the incredible '90s FPS Star Wars: Dark Forces – and gave the former Jedi the opportunity to regain his connection with the Force, and with it, us the opportunity to experience what it would be like to singlehandedly take on the Empire. With its excellent single-player campaign and surprisingly tight multiplayer arenas, Jedi Outcast remains a truly wonderful adventure through the Star Wars universe.
5. Star Wars: Republic Commando
Developer: LucasArts
Released: 2005
Star Wars: Republic Commando arrived at the height of Rainbow Six's popularity and quickly proved that Tom Clancy didn't have total command over the tactical-FPS space. Republic Commando put aside the eternal battle between Jedi and the Sith, instead putting you in control of an elite group of Clone Troopers who were charged with working behind enemy lines during the Clone Wars. With its awesome setpieces, flexible order system, and weighty gunplay, Republic Commando stands alone as one of the most unique Star Wars games ever made. An enhanced port of the game was released for PS4 and Switch in 2021 which makes it easier than ever to experience one of the best original Xbox games.
RELATED: Star Wars: Republic Commando retrospective: How a prequel spin-off redeemed itself by rejecting all things Jedi
4. Star Wars Battlefront 2
Developer: Pandemic Studios
Released: 2005
While we have a lot of love around here for DICE's modern revival of the Battlefront series, there's no beating the original games for the outrageous scale and pure carnage they were able to deliver. 2005's Star Wars Battlefront 2 works as well as it did, not only because it made you feel like a small cog in the much larger war machine, as you joined with either Resistance or Empire forces on some of Star Wars' most iconic battlegrounds, but because you always had the agency to turn the tide of a battle. With its massive-scale multiplayer skirmishes, beautiful visual design, and arcadey-action, Star Wars Battlefront 2 is iconic.
3. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Developer: TT Games
Released: 2022
To put it simply enough: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of the best Lego games ever made. Traveller's Tales has spent almost two decades creating Lego games, and The Skywalker Saga was an opportunity for the studio to return to the film franchise that started it all. TT Games took that opportunity to build an incredible package, one which covers all nine films that make up The Skywalker Saga. There's plenty of the heart and humor that this series has become renowned for delivering of course, and an expanded set of combat and movement mechanics which transforms this experience into something that's as deep as it is open and entertaining for kids of all ages.
RELATED: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review: "At last, this is the droid you are looking for"
2. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Released: 2023
Respawn put down strong foundations with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and built something truly magnificent atop them with this sequel. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor picks up five years after Cal Kestis' ascent to Jedi Knight, tracking his attempts to deepen his understanding of the Force and circumvent the forces of the Empire. With its twisting metroidvania design, stunning art direction and environmental design, excellent lightsaber combat, and surprisingly heartfelt narrative, Jedi: Survivor is proof that video games can have just as much impact on the Star Wars timeline as the movies and TV shows that have defined the shape of the franchise. Do yourself a favor, and take your time exploring what is undoubtedly one of the best games of 2023.
RELATED: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review: "More ambitious, confident, and heartfelt than Fallen Order"
1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Developer: BioWare
Released: 2003
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic may be 20 years old, but it's still heralded as the Best Star Wars game to this day for good reason. Developer BioWare crafted an intricate RPG here, one where you are charged with defining your own path (and alignment with the Force) thousands of years before the formation of the Galactic Empire. Boasting one of the best video game stories, fantastic character building, and an expansive series of planets to explore, KOTOR is a definitive experience that is a must play for anyone who has dreamed of one day becoming a Jedi. A remake is reportedly in development, but the original is still an absolute must-play experience.
RELATED: Knights of the Old Republic remake changing developer after bad internal demo.
Recent updates
Our list of the best Star Wars games was updated on August 28, 2024, to include Star Wars Outlaws. The open world adventure replaces Motive Studios' Star Wars Squadrons.
