The great Star Wars canon reset of 2014 opened the door for tons of new stories in that beloved series, for better or worse. Ok, that’s an unfair joke. There have been tons of great movies, shows, and games since then, and also the Battlefront remaster.
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But before Kay Vess tackled the galaxy’s underworld and Cal Kestis brought ponchos back, there were already loads of awesome Star Wars games stretching back decades. They may now be relegated to the non-canon “Legends” category of stories, but that doesn’t make them any less fun.
10
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic)
Star Wars fans were caught off-guard when the original Star Wars: Battlefront was released in 2004, giving players the chance to take part in iconic battles from throughout the series on foot and in ships. But it wasn’t until the follow-up that the idea realized its full potential.
The core gameplay was still there in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, but with heaps of improvements like playable heroes and a genuinely engaging story mode. While it’s not fully canon, parts of it, like the 501st Legion of clone troopers, made such an impact that they’ve persisted to this day.
9
Star Wars: Republic Commando
If you’ve enjoyed the characterization of the clone troopers in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and other appearances over the years, you have Star Wars: Republic Commando to thank. It gave the previously indistinct soldiers the chance to have individual personalities, a quality that inspired Clone Wars creator Dave Filoni.
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But aside from the endearing members of Delta Squad themselves, Republic Commando also still excels in the gameplay department. It’s a tactical squad-based shooter where you need to work as a team, even in single-player mode. The game isn’t canon, but thankfully, the characters still are, so consider this a series of exaggerated war stories.
8
Star Wars: Episode 1: Battle For Naboo
Star Wars: Episode I – Battle for Naboo
- Released
-
December 18, 2000
Around the time Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace was released, game developers couldn’t stop cooking up their takes on the massively successful series’ resurgence. So it makes perfect sense that Star Wars: Rogue Squadron developer Factor 5 would get in on the action.
This relatively user-friendly ship-based dogfighting game took the familiar formula of Rogue Squadron but set it during the events of Episode 1. Now, you could even fly in space and pilot ground speeders, and smashing through battle droids has never felt so satisfying.
7
Star Wars: Racer Revenge
Everybody loves to gush about Star Wars Episode 1: Racer as a hidden gem of the series, and they’re not wrong to do so. The podrace in Episode 1 itself immediately got everyone hungry for a game that brought those same high-octane thrills, and this game certainly delivered.
But you may not have heard of its sequel, Star Wars: Racer Revenge. This game was non-canon before non-canon Star Wars was a thing, featuring Anakin Skywalker as a young Jedi somehow finding time to re-enter the racing circuit. But it included some super cool additions, most notably the ability to permanently destroy rival racers, provided they didn’t keep up on their repairs.
6
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Released
-
September 16, 2008
During the development of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the game’s creators operated by a singular mantra: “kicking a** with the Force.” This game lets you do exactly that right from the beginning, with a tantalizing opening level featuring Darth Vader wrecking a whole Wookiee village with minimal effort.
If that didn’t tip you off, you’re not exactly playing as a good guy here, at least at first. The game follows Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller, as he does his master’s bidding while slowly learning to think for himself. You have a huge arsenal of upgradeable Force abilities, eventually allowing you to electrocute legions of enemies and even bring down a whole Star Destroyer by yourself.
5
Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
- Released
-
September 16, 2003
Virtually any game in the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight series could stand among the best of the best. Their hybrid of first-person gameplay with eventual third-person lightsaber combat remains satisfying to this day, especially in Jedi Outcast. But that game’s sequel, Jedi Academy, is arguably a more satisfying experience for many, simply due to the titular setting.
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Back before Kylo Ren turned Luke’s new Jedi Academy into a cautionary tale, the idea was one of hope and excitement. You get to create your character and join the academy post-Return of the Jedi and go on adventures with previous series hero Kyle Katarn while uncovering a new Sith plot. Back in the day, this idea was hard to beat.
4
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II – Rogue Leader
- Released
-
November 18, 2001
Battle for Naboo was a solid ship-based game, but it wasn’t until the GameCube entry, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader, that the concept took off. Not only did its incredible graphics and lighting make the console feel truly next-gen, but it perfected the formula.
The gameplay you loved from Rogue Squadron and Battle for Naboo is still there, but now with the ability to issue orders to your wingmates and a huge (but not unfair) jump in difficulty. Canon or not, this is still arguably the definitive starfighter game for many Star Wars fans, and for good reason.
3
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Released
-
December 20, 2011
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Engine
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HeroEngine
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- How Long To Beat
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130+ Hours
How would you like to play as a custom character in a shared Star Wars galaxy while also effectively getting a sequel to the Knights of the Old Republic games? That’s the experience Star Wars: The Old Republic provides, and it’s the only game out there still putting out new Star Wars Legends material.
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You can play as a Jedi, smuggler, soldier, bounty hunter, or even a Sith. That’s right, you can go dark side right from the start, and the choices you make throughout are classic BioWare fare. It’s an MMO, but it’s also genuinely fun to play alone, just like any good scoundrel.
2
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
- Platform(s)
-
MS-DOS, Windows
- Released
-
July 20, 1994
- Developer(s)
-
Totally Games
- How Long To Beat
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19.5 Hours
Star Wars is no stranger to flight sim games, and it’s been that way for decades. Even back in the DOS days, LucasArts already had a considerable presence in the genre. Not bad, considering their mastery of point-and-click adventure games at the same time. No need to show off.
Star Wars: TIE Fighter remains among the best in that series, bringing the double whammy of satisfyingly intricate controls and the still novel premise of working for the Empire. Admittedly, these days, the idea of serving a tyrannical government in a story doesn’t exactly feel the way it used to, but the game is still a blast to play.
1
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2
Yes, the original Knights of the Old Republic could easily top anyone’s list of the best Star Wars games, canon or not. But Obsidian Entertainment’s sequel not only explored the nuances of Star Wars and the Force, it honestly just kind of plays better, too. Following a player-created exile from the Jedi Order, Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords takes you around the galaxy with a crew of lovable characters (and Kreia) brought to life by incredible writing.
Few Star Wars games make you think, and while you’re not going to find Pride and Prejudice levels of meaning, it hits well for a video game. This semi-turn-based RPG builds on the tactical aspects of its predecessor, too, adding new powers and gameplay elements that allow you to truly feel the power of the Force, or at least allowing the enemies on the business end of your lightning to feel it.
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