Back in 1977, an indie film by the director of American Grafitti with seemingly zero chance of being a hit soon became a global phenomenon, as Star Wars became a juggernaut of a brand that still conquers the planet to this day. With the success of the films, it seems natural that most Star Wars video games would be best-sellers too.
For the most part, this rings true, with games like Battlefront II, Knights of The Old Republic, and Jedi: Fallen Order all being major hits. However, there are some Star Wars games that haven't received the same amount of love.
Star Wars: Republic Commando (2005)
Republic Commando ranks a little lower than most would expect as it has pretty much received the fanbase it deserves, but it still could use some more attention. Set during the infamous Clone Wars, the game follows Boss, Scorch, Fixer, and Sev, a team of Clones known as The Delta Squad who are sent to do The Republic's dirty work in their war against The Separatists.
At its core, Republic Commando is an FPS game with strategy elements, as the player can give commands to Scorch, Fixer, and Sev which open up a variety of gameplay opportunities. Furthermore, the game should be noted for giving the Clone Troopers depth long before The Clone Wars aired.
Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords (2004)
With KOTOR soon getting a reboot, perhaps now is a good time to revisit the often overlooked sequel to the most beloved Star Wars game. Set five years after the original game, The Sith Lords follows a disgraced Jedi known as The Exile as he sets out to stop The Sith once and for all...while being tempted to join them.
The Sith Lords has the same RPG system as its predecessor, but with its story and setting, it goes in a darker direction which helps it stand out. While the game was initially hurt by being released unfinished, recent releases have presented the game in its full glory.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Revenge of The Sith is easily the best of the prequel trilogy, but few are aware that it had a pretty solid video game tie-in. While the PS2 and Xbox versions are nothing to sneeze at, it's the GBA port that is the true standout of the pack.
Players can play as either Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi, experiencing their diverging paths in the form of a solid, colorful 2D hack-and-slash. The game is surprisingly faithful to the plot of the movie and is just a fun experience all around.
The Super Star Wars Games (1992-1993)
The SNES had some punishingly difficult games, but not only did the console boast one brutal Star Wars game, but three. The Super Star Wars games retell the stories of the original trilogy, but those events looked a lot easier for the characters on the screen than they were for those who played these games.
The games take on a run-and-gun gameplay style, with the players battling their way through the three movies with a lot of blasters bolts, lightsabers, as well as the occasional vehicle section. The game is tough as nails but is extremely rewarding and has that classic Star Wars feel.
Star Wars Episode I: Battle For Naboo (2000-2001)
The Phantom Menace, a movie that gave Star Wars fans Gungans, senate hearings, midichlorians, and a whole lot of Star Wars memes. No matter what anyone thinks about the film's quality, they can't deny that it had some solid tie-in games, but Battle For Naboo tends to get the short end of the stick.
The game takes place during the events of the infamous movie as the player takes control of a Naboo N-1 Starfighter and lays waste to Trade Federation ships. Battle For Naboo's controls are rather responsive, despite being on The N64, and if fans finds enjoyment from The Phantom Menace, they'll get a kick out of the game.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron- Rogue Leader (2001-2002)
Factor 5 is a legendary studio when it comes to Star Wars games, as the studio developed the iconic Rogue Squadron series. Rogue Leader was the second game in the franchise and may just be, depending on the individual perspective, the best.
Unlike the prior game, which had a most original narrative, the game mostly follows the events of the original trilogy, but every other aspect was tweaked to perfection. The graphics and controls in Rogue Leader far surpass the original and still hold up to this day.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
In case there are people who aren't aware, Boba Fett is pretty popular right now, but there's one aspect that his father Jango has over him. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter puts the player in the shoes of Jango Fett as he fulfills a bounty for Count Dooku and presents a darker side of the Star Wars universe.
A major problem with Attack of The Clones, the movie that introduced Jango Fett, is that he felt like he was just shoved in with no chance to develop before his demise. This was something rectified by the game, as it fleshes out aspects of the movie that were unexplained, and Temura Morrison does a fantastic job voicing the character.
Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire
Long before the prequel trilogy, Star Wars got a major push in novels, comics, and video games, and Shadows of The Empire was used to fill in the lore between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of The Jedi. The game follows mercenary Dash Rendar as he rushes to rescue Princess Leia from a criminal syndicate.
Despite being a best-seller for the N64, Shadows of The Empire has been more or less forgotten about in recent years, which is a shame because it's a solid attempt to bring the Star Wars world into the 3D realm. Dash has kind of become a fan-favorite character, so Star Wars fans owe it to themselves to witness his genesis.
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
Despite being labeled one of the greatest of all time, Star Wars: TIE Fighter doesn't come to mind immediately when it comes to discussions of the best Star Wars games. Once again set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of The Jedi, TIE Fighter follows the wheelings and dealings of The Empire, with characters like Emporer Palpatine, Darth Vader, and even Grand Admiral Thrawn making appearances.
Flight simulators were all the rage in the 90s, with TIE Fighter being a prime example of the genre at its absolute best, as its mechanics and narrative are outstanding. Even though its style may seem intimidating, Star Wars fans should definitely give this game a chance, as it's definitely worth their time.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight- Jedi Academy
Jedi Academy was the final entry in the underrated Jedi Knight series of games, and it's the game that makes the most changes to the formula. Set after Return of The Jedi, the player takes control of a customizable prospective Jedi named Jaden as he and Kyle Katarn, a powerful force user from Legends, go on an adventure to stop the cult of an ancient Sith Lord.
With the prior games focusing on Kyle Katarn, it may feel odd to play as some newbie, but the lightsaber combat and force power controls are as satisfying as ever. Not to mention, it's fun to see what the future of the Star Wars universe looked like before the sequel trilogy.