Best Moments in Star Wars Games. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best moments from the Star Wars games, even though some of these on the list are no longer considered canon.
2019 is going to be a great year for Star Wars – whether it’s the final installment of the sequel trilogy with The Rise of Skywalker, or the premiere of the live-action show The Mandalorian, or the new story-based game with Fallen Order. All of these things are exciting for fans of the franchise, especially the announcement of a single-player experience, something gamers have wanted since before the Disney acquisition of the series. Although Star Wars Battlefront gave players a chance to join in some of the most epic battles of the movies, it still disappointed in its lack of story content.
With the future being hopeful for new stories in the gaming world, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best moments from the Star Wars games, even though some of these on the list are no longer considered canon.
Best Moments in Star Wars Games
Star Wars Battlefront II – The Destruction of the Second Death Star
A controversial game, Star Wars Battlefront II was divisive to the community of fans and gamers alike. Even though the multiplayer is questionable at times, the game did add a short, but decent single-player campaign that adds to the canon of the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy. In command of Inferno Squad, Iden Versio leads a team of Imperial special forces on the forest moon of Endor during the famous battle from Return of the Jedi. Before the battle is over though, Iden and her squad witness the destruction of the second Death Star, shaking their faith and belief in the invincibility of the Galactic Empire. It’s a great inciting incident that leads to a great character arc and spawned a book adding to her background.
Star Wars: The Old Republic – Freedom to Choose
Ever wanted to live within the galaxy far, far, away? Well, with The Old Republic, that fantasy can become a somewhat reality. In this MMORPG, players can choose their faction (the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire), choose their species, and even their class. This means that if you’ve always wanted to be a morally righteous Jedi that protects the galaxy from evil, then that’s a possibility. Or, if you’ve ever wanted to be a lone-wolf smuggler or bounty hunter, then that is entirely possible. There are also chances to explore famous planets from the movies like Hoth, Alderaan, and Corellia. Although an older title, it’s still worth playing due to its endless possibilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQUM-YiIuFU
Star Wars: Republic Commando – Squad Goals
An innovative FPS experience that was reminiscent of the Halo franchise, but gave players a chance to dive into the Star Wars galaxy with a grittier story and tone. In this Clone Wars era shooter, gamers took on the role of a clone commando, leading a squad of other commandos behind enemy lines and into dangerous territory. The gameplay relied heavily on squad-based combat – allowing the NPCs to be a great support and to be used strategically to get through some difficult battles.
Star Wars: Battlefront – Heroes and Villains Join the Fight
Again, the newest entries in the Star Wars: Battlefront franchise have caused controversy over their lack of heart and greedy lootbox-style gameplay, but there’s no denying that when these issues were addressed and fixed, the game was still a lot of fun to play. Jumping into large-scale battles at Hoth, Endor, and even Tatooine was exciting, especially with the impressive graphics engine. One of the greatest qualities of these games is getting the chance to play as fan favorite heroes or villains – namely characters like Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and Jyn Erso. Each character is customized to their own skillsets, so each one plays differently than the last.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Force Pulling a Star Destroyer
Playing as Vader’s secret apprentice named Starkiller, gamers took on the objective of hunting down the remaining Jedi that survived Order 66. Over time though, Starkiller starts to question the work of Vader and killing of the Jedi. It leads to some great character moments, epic fight sequences, and a decent story that is sadly no longer canon. But in one of the most epic scenes in gaming history, Starkiller uses the force to pull a fully functional Star Destroyer out of space, crashing down on the planet. The game lets players take control, using various button combinations to rip the ship into the atmosphere while a fleet of Tie Fighters are trying to stop you.
Star Wars: Dark Forces – Stealing the Death Star Plans
Recently in the film canon, we’ve seen how the Rebel Alliance acquired the Death Star plans, but back in the 90s, the explanation was much different. In Dark Forces, the rebel alliance hires the protagonist of the game, Kyle Katarn to steal the plans, which leads to the destruction of the first technological terror. It’s a great moment because it was a gameplay moment, not just a cutscene.
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade – Vader Fight II
There was nothing more fun than going to an arcade and jumping into the seat of the Star Wars Trilogy Arcade game. Though most arcades have upgraded to the new Battle Pod, this original title was one of the best experiences in gaming history. For one, it featured all of the major space and ground battles of the movies, giving players the use of a joystick – which made gamers young and old feel like they were really behind the controls of an X-Wing or a snowspeeder on Hoth. But the greatest moment in the game was when players were faced with a saber duel against the notorious Darth Vader. As Vader swung his saber, players had to block and counter using the joystick at the right time. It was a tough challenge but rewarding all-the-same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdPiyVRa3o
Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) – Galactic Conquest
Considered one of the greatest games of the franchise, the original Battlefront II was not only a battle simulator, but had a decent story-campaign, immersion in epic battles from the films, and a variety of game types as well as character classes. One thing that the sequel built upon significantly was a game type called Galactic Conquest, which played a lot like a board game. Players could choose the era and their faction from that era, then go on a galactic conquest – taking over planets, fighting in space battles, and playing as their favorite Jedi or Sith. It’s a game type that is greatly missed and would do wonders if added to the new rendition of the Battlefront games.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Revan Reveal
Acclaimed as the greatest Star Wars game in the history of video games, KotOR dropped players into a distant past, taking place hundreds of years before the first film. In this epic RPG, players learned of a Sith named Darth Revan. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding this character, but at a major point in the game’s plot, it’s revealed that the player’s character is the notorious Darth Revan. It’s an amazing moment in pre-Disney canon history that stuck with players for years.
