Back in the days where there were no loot crates or season passes, the 2000s were a golden age for Star Wars games, especially on the GameCube. As EA now charges real money for bonuses, those very bonuses would have been hidden unlockables in the GameCube games, as they were full to the brim with content, and fans could spend weeks combing through everything.
Gamers may now be a few console generations removed from the GameCube, but that little purple box delivered some incredible memories, with many of them being Star Wars adventures. From controlling canon characters during the Clone Wars to riding speeder bikes, there is barely a bad game of the bunch.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (2002)
Fans of the franchise are still reeling from the cancellation of Star Wars 1313, an incredible looking game that was in development in the early 2010s and saw the player controlling none other than Boba Fett. But with 1313 being one of the games cancelled for weird reasons, it left players angry that they wouldn’t be able to play as the coolest bounty hunter in the galaxy.
However, in 2002, GameCube owners did get to enjoy something similar, as players controlled Jango Fett in a game based in six different worlds and saw players face off against the darkest Jedi. The game didn’t have the most depth out of all the Star Wars games, but it was a fun and action packed entry in to the series of GameCube Star Wars games.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2002)
Being set between Attack Of The Clones and Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars is one of the best games where gamers can play a canon character, as players can choose between controlling Anakin, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The game is extremely unpolished and the graphics a pretty blotchy. But it’s possibly the most addictive of all the GameCube games thanks to its multiplayer modes, which include King of the Hill and Death Match.
Before Star Wars Battlefront was one of the game franchises that EA has ruined, it was a great third person shooter developed by LucasArts that’s still beloved today, but it wouldn’t have been as great as it is if it wasn’t Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as it was a huge influence on the series.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (2003)
Putting aside the fact that Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike opens with Darth Vader, Luke, Leia, and Han dancing in a club with the Death Star acting as a disco ball, all while a disco version of the theme tune plays, the game is pretty incredible. Being a squadron for the rebels, players can operate not only X-wings, but also speeder bikes, AT-STs, and so many more.
Not only that, but there are some on foot missions with a ton of shootouts with Stormtroopers. However, these levels are significantly underdeveloped. Still, it helps give the game more depth, and it doesn’t distract from Rebel Strike’s biggest selling point, which is the vast amount of vehicles at the gamer’s disposal.
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game (2005)
Though the three movies have a lot of great uses of CGI, it’s incredibly hard to make the prequel trilogy look good. But that’s exactly what LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game does. Though, it does it by being extremely self aware and making fun of itself, the LEGO game’s take on Anakin’s story arc is actually exciting, fun, and surprisingly challenging.
The gameplay is incredible too, as it sidelines the mundane trade federation scenes and instead dumps players straight in to pod races, which is all gamers wanted ever since the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999. There is hardly anything bad about the game except for it lagging from time to time.
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (2006)
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is more of the same as its predecessor, but it switches up the gameplay in many ways. However, the reason why it’s better is simple; players get to control characters that people actually care about.
It’s no secret that there are a ton of satisfying moments in the original trilogy, and fans get to play through all of them in very colorful and creative fashion. The game has more customization than the first too, and there’s also the ability to ride on creatures and take control of vehicles.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)
Upon it’s release, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast was mostly praised for its aesthetic, as it looked great and sounded wonderful, but it also had its fair share of problems when it came to the gameplay mechanics.
However, out of all of the GameCube entries, Jedi Outcast holds up the most and is by far one of the most memorable gaming experiences, and though it may not be perfect, the story, which follows Kyle Katarn after he has avenged his father’s death, is magnificent.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001)
With the breathtaking newly released VR game Star Wars Squadrons shocking audiences (even if there are a ton of storylines that were never resolved,) it wouldn’t be as thrilling as it is if it wasn’t for this game.
Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader wasn’t just the very first GameCube Star Wars game, but it’s the very best too. Players literally get to relive the Death Star trench run, the battle on Hoth, and a ton of other iconic scenes from the original trilogy, and it’s one of the most immersive Star Wars games ever.