In a galaxy far, far away, the alien characters are often the most distinctive and compelling individuals. The original Star Wars trilogy introduced Wookiees through Chewbacca and Hutts through Jabba the Hutt, while other species like the Chiss and Togrutas weren't introduced until later on.
The best alien characters in the Star Wars canon are those who tie into the franchise's overarching themes and character development, those who change the status quo of traditional characters, and those who pave the way for their species to become more prominent in other stories.
Admiral Ackbar
Introduced in Return of the Jedi, Admiral Ackbar was the first significant Mon Calamari character in Star Wars. The Mon Calamari went on to play big roles in other canon stories such as The Clone Wars and Rogue One. Ackbar's steadfast leadership during the Battle of Endor, his unique appearance, and his iconic quote "It's a trap!" in Return of the Jedi made him a fan-favorite character from the jump.
Ackbar also made the Rebellion more diverse. All the Rebellion leaders in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back were human. It was refreshing to see an alien character in a position of power and authority, especially since the Empire was so oppressive toward many alien species.
Jabba The Hutt
After many mentions in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, fans got to see Jabba the Hutt in the flesh for the first time in Return of the Jedi. The greedy, cruel, grotesque, and strong-minded character showed that Star Wars villains could be powerful and influential without being part of the Empire.
Jabba was crucial to developing the criminal underworld of Star Wars, an area of the universe that has led to some of the best stories, like The Mandalorian. Jabba also paved the way for the rest of the Hutts and the Hutt Cartel, who have been influential in every era from the High Republic to the Poe Dameron comics in the sequel trilogy.
Marchion Ro
Marchion Ro is the primary antagonist of the High Republic era and was first introduced in Charles Soule's novel Light of the Jedi. The identity of Ro's species has not been revealed, although fans first got a glimpse of the blue-skinned character's face in the High Republic Adventures comics. It has been hinted that the history of his people is connected to his deep hatred for the Jedi, making the mystery of his alien identity and his backstory all the more intriguing.
Ro is a formidable and enigmatic villain who has managed to throw the Republic and the Jedi Order into chaos at the height of their power, and he's only getting started. His ability to manipulate, terrorize, and undermine these powerful institutions makes him an impressive villain who keeps everyone guessing about the Nihil's next move. In addition to Ro being mysterious and daunting, Light of the Jedi and its sequel The Rising Storm have done a great job of fleshing out Ro by exploring some of his fears and insecurities, thus making him a more nuanced villain.
Grogu
While Grogu is not the first member of his species to be introduced, he is still one of Star Wars' most popular alien characters. His adorable, sweet nature and the captivating questions that surround him made his character and The Mandalorian a global sensation. Even people who are not familiar with Star Wars recognize "Baby Yoda."
Beyond being cute, lovable, and mysterious, Grogu is the key to The Mandalorian's emphasis on found family and Din Djarin's journey of learning to become a better person and forging a meaningful identity outside of his Mandalorian creed.
Hera Syndulla
Thanks to characters like Hera Syndulla, fans have been able to gain a new perception and appreciation of Twi'leks since they initially appeared in Return of the Jedi. Hera resonates with fans because of her infectious optimism and inspiring leadership.
She never stops fighting for what she believes in and always finds a way to successfully adapt to a situation, while also being compassionate and genuinely caring for others. As a gifted pilot, mechanic, and leader, she does it all and never gives up.
Maul
The cool-looking, fierce, and underdeveloped Maul was introduced and seemingly killed off in The Phantom Menace. Thanks to The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, several comics, and a brief appearance in Solo, Maul has since become one of the most tragic and compelling characters in the Star Wars canon.
As a Dathomirian Zabrak, Maul opened the door for Dathomir, the Nightsisters, and Zabraks to be explored in-depth in The Clone Wars and other tales. He also provided an important link between the criminal underworld and the conflicts regarding the Sith, Jedi, and other Force-sensitive characters.
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Thrawn was first introduced in Timothy Zahn's novel Heir to the Empire. While this novel is part of Legends, Star Wars Rebels brought the scarily intelligent Thrawn into the canon. As a more intellectual and cerebral character, Thrawn is a unique villain and a refreshing change of pace from the Sith and other Dark Side users. Meanwhile, Timothy Zahn's Thrawn novels explore the character in-depth and paint him in a less villainous light.
Thanks to Thrawn and Zahn's novels, the blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss and the distinctive structure of their society have made them one of the most well-developed alien species in the Star Wars world. All of these factors, his unresolved story from Rebels, and a name-drop in season 2 of The Mandalorian are setting up Thrawn to become even more important when he makes his inevitable live-action debut.
Ahsoka Tano
After leaving the Jedi Order, Ahsoka was able to take the best parts of her Jedi experiences and forge a path that was unique and meaningful to her. Her story serves as a testament to how there is no one correct path to take in life and that each person needs to make their journey their own.
Now many fans' favorite episodes of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels are the ones that focus on her, her episode of The Mandalorian was also a fan favorite, and there is much anticipation and many burning questions for the live-action Ahsoka series. It is also important to remember that Ahsoka was one of the first female Force-sensitive characters to receive a lot of focus and development, which paved the way for Rey and many other characters moving forward.
Chewbacca
As a key character in A New Hope, Chewbacca was one of the first and most important alien characters in a galaxy far, far away. Chewbacca's fierce loyalty is unmatched and he is able to form close friendships with all types of people. His bond with Han Solo is one of the most genuine and enduring friendships in all of Star Wars, but Chewbacca is also able to connect with other characters like Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, Rey, and Finn.
Chewbacca's age allows him to appear in almost any era of Star Wars, making him one of the few characters who is able to connect the prequel, original, and sequel trilogies together. While Chewbacca will always be the most iconic Wookiee, the lovable, loyal, and sometimes ferocious nature of his fellow Wookiees have made them a delight to watch in other stories like Solo and Revenge of the Sith.
Yoda
Quirky, wise, and wonderful, Yoda is the best alien character in all of Star Wars. Ever since his introductory scene in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda has defied expectations, both entertaining and teaching audiences with his delightful antics and profound insights regarding the Force, identity, and the relationships individuals share with each other.
He is wise but also imperfect, and makes his fair share of mistakes that he learns from. Out of all the alien characters, he has had some of the most consistent focus in development, making him a beloved and fascinating personality spanning from the High Republic to the sequel trilogy and everything in between.