Within Star Wars: Hunters' diverse cast from across the galaxy, the dark side character, Rieve, is possibly the most interesting. To be released in 2022, Star Wars: Hunters is a fast-paced 4v4 action game developed by Zynga for the Nintendo Switch and mobile device. Set post-Return of the Jedi on the planet Vespaara, the game brings characters from bounty hunters to Rebellion heroes to battle for supremacy on varying stages inspired by Star Wars locales.
Rieve is a dark side user and a damage class among the nine playable characters. Described as ruthless and glowing with anger, she revels in combat, cackling in glee as she brings down her red lightsaber on opponents. Out of every Star Wars: Hunters character revealed so far, her role seems to be an assassin, leaping and bursting down opponents with quick flourishes and saber throws from her gameplay. However, while not much is known about her background, her character design suggests a deeper connection to Star Wars lore.
In the Star Wars: Hunters trailer Welcome to the Arena (shown below) the action follows mostly Rieve as she evades and taunts the opposing side. The trailer accumulates with a faceoff between the two sides before ending in a hail of blaster fire and lightsaber clashes. However, what's striking about Rieve is a visible tattoo of Emperor Palpatine's Sith Eternal crest first introduced in Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on the back of her head, effectively rooting her within the main Star Wars canon.
Who Is Star Wars: Hunters' Dark Side Character Rieve?
At first glance of Rieve in Star Wars: Hunters, her tunic is the typical Sith outfit, sporting a combination of red and black with a tattoo of the Sith Eternal. However, her tunic and pants are adorned with darkened plate armor, with her lightsaber alluding to being much older with the emitter and base adorned with decorative spikes and jagged edges. While her outfit seems to be rooted in respect towards the cult, evoking similarities to the outfit worn by the prime Sith Eternal, Emperor Palpatine, it is more than mere admiration.
However, unlike the Emperor, and other full Sith, Star Wars: Hunters depicts Rieve's eyes as a shade of violet, indicating that she may be a dark side user and not Sith. Moreover, Sith that have completely immersed themselves in the dark side gain the signature yellow eyes and tend to be more brutal in their combat. Rieve's appearance and playstyle mirror the Sith Assassin-turned-bounty hunter Asajj Ventress and Darth Tyranus, aka Count Dooku.
While not explicitly said who Rieve is and her background, much is said already from her outfit, playstyle, and connection to the Star Wars canon. While her outfit and tattoo suggest loyalty to the Sith Eternal, it's more likely that she's intrigued with the idea. Her playstyle supports more of a devotee of the dark side than a follower of the embodiment of the dark side, Palpatine. Where she fits within the greater Star Wars canon is an exciting concept; who knows where she will appear next. Star Wars: Hunters is shaping to be one of the most unique Star Wars games to date with characters as diverse as their backgrounds.