With Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi’s release looming ever closer this week, you may find yourself wanting to check out some of the many Star Wars games that have released over the decades. Thankfully, there are a ton of quality titles to experience that are not only great games in their own right, but will get you hyped up for The Last Jedi.
That’s because these particular games truly capture the feel of what a Star Wars movie is supposed to be. Some of them are movie-quality because of the bombastic action and wonderful space battles, while others are fantastic simply because of the endearing characters that you won’t soon forget. Regardless, these are the Star Wars games that make you feel like you’re in one of the movies, and no fan should miss them.
The Force Unleashed
No other Stars Wars game has captured the feeling of being an all-powerful Jedi (or Sith) than The Force Unleashed. It’s almost comical how action-packed and fast this third-person hack-and-slash game is. Taking place between Revenge of the Sith and The New Hope, you play as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice Starkiller.
Also: The Lego Star Wars Games Get it Right Where EA’s Battlefront 2 Doesn’t
The set-pieces are massive and the adrenaline-rushing gameplay will have you feeling like you’re in a big budget film. You actually take down a freakin’ Star Destroyer with just your Force powers, and you can pound Darth Vader into dust like it’s nothing. All while you get to visit classic movie locations like the Death Star and Bespin.
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
What better way to feel like you’re in a Star Wars movie than to actually play the entire first two trilogies in video game form? The Complete Saga is a bargain to boot, featuring six lengthy campaigns that can all be played alongside anyone, even kids. Though it is certainly the most lighthearted entry on this list, its quirky humor is pretty entertaining.
You get to play through the biggest and craziest moments from the franchise, including the Battle of Endor, destroying the Death Star, and the introduction of the Clone Army. Better yet, you can play as the iconic characters that we have grown to love: Luke, Han, Yoda and just about anyone you can think of.
Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
For those that absolutely adore the space aspects of Star Wars, Rogue Leader is for you. This vehicle-based action game has you travel across the galaxy through 10 missions straight out of the entire original trilogy. For the pure joy of piloting an X-Wing in a massive space battle, there is simply no comparison to Rogue Leader.
Though it is more than 16 years old at this point, the controls, gameplay and even graphics still hold up today. If you’ve ever wanted the chance to destroy the Death Star as Luke, this is the game that does it best. Beyond the space battles, you can even play through iconic land ones like taking down a hulking AT-AT in the Battle of Hoth.
Knights of the Old Republic 2
Knights of the Old Republic 2 tells a sweeping narrative across the galaxy with memorable characters, reminiscent of a Star Wars movie in that regard. By far the strongest entry on this list for those interested in the more storytelling aspect of the franchise, KOTOR 2 takes us back thousands of years before any of the movies and expands the lore far beyond the Skywalker legacy.
While we could’ve mentioned its much beloved predecessor that also successfully tells a brilliant story, KOTOR 2 is much darker in tone like we expect The Last Jedi to be. It gives you the feeling that you’re in the director’s seat, allowing you to create your own character and shape a powerful story where the Sith are actually winning. Not to mention, you can have a silver lightsaber.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Sorry, EA, we’re talking about the 2005 Battlefront II. There is no other game that has accurately captured the feeling of a Star Wars movie perfectly, from the action to even the story. The massive battles that you participate in are unparalleled. Whether it’s in space or on the ground, each match you play feels like you’re just one tiny soldier in the middle of a huge war.
The sheer amount of gameplay freedom is impressive, too. If you’re running around shooting and see a tank you want to pilot, you can do that. If you want to land your TIE fighter on the enemy ship and go on a suicide mission, you can do that as well. The possibilities are endless, so it’s no surprise that there are still people living out its cinematic battles 12 years later.
