13 best Star Wars games ranked (2023): Jedi Survivor, The Old Republic & LEGO
Star Wars has never been more popular, so we have ranked the best 13 Star Wars games that have been released, from LEGO games, to the Old Republic, and even Jedi Survivor.
There have been plenty of Star Wars games over the years, some more focused on narrative, some being purely about shooting and others diving into Lightsaber combat.
That is the beauty of this universe - you can make games of all kinds of different genres out of this space-faring franchise with next year's Star Wars Outlaws going for a different approach again.
Continue reading below to see our picks for the best Star Wars games ranked, and let us know if you agree with our choices.
- Looking to take a game on the go? Check out our list of the best Steam Deck games
The best Star Wars games
13 - Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
Click to enlarge- Developer: LucasArts
- Release date: 1999
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo 64, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
- Key features:
- Captures the essence of Podracing
- Amusing commentary
- True to source material
Now this is Podracing. If you're looking for the high-octane rush of a Star Wars racing game, then Star Wars Racer is it. While not the most... favourably remembered portion of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, it has more than made up for it as a self-assured racing title.
Playing as Anakin Skywalker, Sebulba and several other alien species, you'll be hitting the track and trying to stay alive in the most intense races. Having been released as part of a collection with Star Wars: Clone Commando, Racer is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, so anyone can pick it up and play.
What sets it and its sequel, Star Wars Racer Revenge apart from other racing titles is the pure, unfiltered speed the game presents. If you thought F-Zero was fast, then these might be comparable, with tracks twisting and turning in the brutal fashion you would come to expect from Podracing.
- See if you agree with our list of the best Final Fantasy games ranked
12 - LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Click to enlarge- Developer: Traveller's Tales
- Release date: 2007
- Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS, Android
- Key features:
- The best way to experience the series in games
- Family friendly and co-op
- Accesible
- LEGO humour and puzzles
TT Games has long been making LEGO titles, with their first bash at it - LEGO Star Wars - releasing back in 2005. After a tonne of experience and 15 years of game evolution, they undertook the task to bring all nine mainline Star Wars films into one LEGO package, and it's all the fun you would expect.
It brings the LEGO-themed action-adventure formula forward, with a heap of new mechanics, ideas, and content, meaning you'll have a lot to do if you want to go beyond just finishing the main story. It's frequently silly, and endlessly charming, so for some fun alone or with friends, you can't go wrong with LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga.
- The Skywalker Saga is also an excellent alternative to The Complete Sage, so be sure to read our LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review
11 - Star Wars: Empire at War
Click to enlarge- Developer: Petroglyph Games
- Release date: 2006
- Platforms: PC, Mac
- Key features:
- Real-time strategy but with a Star Wars flavour
- Intricate systems
- Plenty of maps
- Multiplayer
For the chance at expansive galactic conquest and large-scale warfare, Star Wars: Empire at War is your best bet. It's getting on now as it was released back in 2006, but it still stands as the best Star Wars real-time strategy game.
Set between the events of Episode III and IV, it sees you take control of the Empire or the Rebels, with two separate campaigns for each faction, a standard skirmish mode, and galactic conquest, in which you attempt to take all the planets in the solar system. It features all the fan-favourite vehicles and soldiers from the Empire era and lets you battle it out in space or on the ground, making for a wildly varied and strategic experience.
- If you're a mobile fan, be sure to check out our list of the best games like Pokemon GO
10 - Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Click to enlarge- Developer: LucasArts
- Release date: 2002
- Platforms: PS2, GameCube
- Key features:
- Get to play as Jango Fett
- Assortment of weapons
- Great graphics for the era
With Star Wars: Outlaws having been announced, now is the perfect time to track down and play this entry on our list of the best Star Wars games: Bounty Hunter. Playing as Jango Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter, you will be taking on a series of missions that show the run-up to his selection as the progenitor of the Clone Army.
Despite some degree of linearity, Bounty Hunter has a selection of side-quests in each of its levels where you can hunt down targets for credits... dead or alive. While bringing them in alive will surely net you a good profit, sometimes it's out of your hands.
Rather than placing you in the role of a Jedi, you must rely solely on your skills with a blaster to hunt down your quarries. If the trailer for Outlaws is anything to go by, we may just have a spiritual successor in our midst.
- Do you love word games? Find out what the best games like Wordle are here
9 - Star Wars: Battlefront II
Click to enlarge- Developer: DICE
- Release date: 2017
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Key features:
- Perfectly captures the atmosphere of Star Wars
- Outstanding sound design
- Stunning visuals
Despite the recent Battlefront titles from DICE not receiving the greatest fanfare, nothing can hold a candle to the scale of the first-person warfare in Battlefront II. With the flashy Frostbite 3 engine, tight shooting and vehicle controls, jumping into the middle of an all-out war never felt so fun.
The multiplayer is where this game really shines, allowing players to take part in massive battles across the three main eras of Star Wars, and even control the legends from those stories such as Yoda, Darth Maul, and Luke Skywalker himself. The class-based gameplay makes it feel team-oriented, so you can jump in with a squad of friends and do a lot of damage while having a lot of fun.
- Check out our list of the best paid & free MMORPGs if you're interested in the genre
8 - Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II
Click to enlarge- Developer: Factor 5, LucasArts
- Release date: 2001
- Platforms: GameCube
- Key features:
- Graphics still hold up today
- Improved tactics menu
- Simple controls
Despite being the oldest game on this list, don't mistake Rogue Squadron II for being outdated or past its time, as it's still the pinnacle of dog fighting and space combat in the franchise. It was a Gamecube launch title that managed to rival legendary Nintendo games with its quality, and it still looks, sounds, and feels great to this day.
It gives you the chance to take part in some of the most iconic moments in the franchise's history, and due to the solid experience of piloting a starfighter with all its manoeuvres and tricks, no dogfighting game has managed to overtake it.
- Lightsabers are without a doubt some of the best weapons in gaming. Check out more best weapons in gaming history here
7 - Star Wars: The Old Republic
Click to enlarge- Developer: BioWare
- Release date: 2011
- Platforms: PC
- Key features:
- Original and unique story set in the Star Wars universe
- Allows you to write your own Star Wars story
- Well written adventure, with plenty of choice
If a massively multiplayer Star Wars experience is what you fancy, then The Old Republic has more than enough of what you'd expect from the franchise. It's been doing pretty well for over ten years now, despite some periods of player decline, but with its numerous expansions and content updates, there are hundreds of hours of questing, activities, raiding, and PvP fighting to do.
It takes place thousands of years before the Skywalker Saga, giving us a unique look into the history of the Republic, the Sith, and the turmoil in the galaxy as a whole. Like any MMO, you're also allowed to pick your own class, letting you progress through some surprisingly solid stories such as Smugglers, Bounty Hunters, Sith Warriors, Jedi Consular, and much more.
- Do you love gun-based combat in games? Check out the best free-to-play shooters here
6 - Star Wars: Republic Commando
Click to enlarge- Developer: LucasArts
- Release date: 2005
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS4
- Key features:
- Single-player and multiplayer modes
- Set between the second and third films
- Control your own squad with commands against opponents
Star Wars: Republic Commando brought the universe into the world of tactical first-person shooters by putting you into the shoes of a Clone Commander who leads a team of special forces. It showcased a grittier side of Star Wars and let you get to know four distinct Clone Troopers on their dangerous spec-ops missions.
As the boss of the group, you're able to dictate commands to the soldiers and use their unique abilities, giving you options for approaching different scenarios based on your reading of the situation. It's a short but immersive single-player FPS that showcases a side often forgotten in Star Wars, and with the recent Switch release, it's easy to jump right in.
- Are indie games more your style? Check out our list of best indie games here
5 - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Click to enlarge- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Release date: 2019
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Original single-player story
- Set during an interesting time period of the canon
- Satisfying lightsaber combat
During EA's time as the steward of the Star Wars franchise in gaming, we got the fantastic Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order from Respawn. Set between the events of Episodes III and IV, it puts us in the shoes of a former padawan, Cal Kestis, as he attempts to survive the Imperial Inquisition and complete his Jedi training.
Throughout the levels, you will explore various planets and unlock the secrets of the Jedi Order, learning new lightsaber moves, force abilities, and more to take on the Inquisitors and the Empire's soldiers. It also adapts a Metroidvania level structure, which pairs with the solid combat and showcases a clear FromSoftware (Elden Ring, Armored Core) influence that raises it to a new level.
- Check out the best games like Dark Souls here
4 - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Click to enlarge- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Release date: 2023
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Improves on the original in every way
- Satisfying combat
- Lightsaber stances
- Explorable world that feels rich and very Star Wars
Following on from Jedi: Fallen Order, we have the direct sequel from Respawn Entertainment, Jedi: Survivor. This picks up the story of Cal Kestis five years after the last game after his group has all gone their separate ways.
While the Empire is still a looming threat over Cal, this time he discovers a more ancient threat that he must contend with. This rollercoaster of a story dives deep into what it means to be a Jedi, all while exploring a corner of Star Wars that has, so far, gone untouched by the writers at Disney.
All of this is wrapped up in a game that’s clearly taken inspiration from its elders. There are open-world elements of Elden Ring to be enjoyed here, with a delightful progression system that constantly rewards you. It’s every bit as good as its predecessor and more.
For some, it's so good that players have sought out similar titles to Jedi Survivor, in order to feel that same experience that it instils. If that doesn't indicate a potential game of the year... what does?
- Looking to pick up a new Star Wars game? Read our full Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review here
3 - Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Click to enlarge- Developer: BioWare
- Release date: 2003
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, Mac, PS5, Nintendo Switch
- Key features:
- Learn the force and build your own lightsaber
- Deep RPG
- Great writing in an original story
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most faithful Star Wars titles ever made, adapting almost beat-for-beat the hero's journey that we see Luke go through in the original trilogy. Instead, it takes place 4,000 years before the formation of the Empire, putting us in the shoes of a Republic soldier as a Sith armada led by Dark Malek begins its attack.
It benefits greatly from its CRPG design, taking a lot of inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons with its mechanics and combat. While this can make some aspects of it feel dated, the quality of the story and roleplaying still holds it high in people's minds to this day. It understands the heart and soul of Star Wars, fervently bringing that to the forefront of the experience, which is why it's still a classic.
- If high-octane Star Wars action isn't for you, check out our list of best cosy games
2 - Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Click to enlarge- Developer: Raven Software
- Release date: 2002
- Platforms: PC, Mac, GameCube, PS4, Nintendo Switch
- Key features:
- Multiplayer with up to 32 other players
- Plenty of missions
- Lightsaber combat and force powers
One of the coolest and most iconic aspects of Star Wars is the lightsabers, and no game does lightsaber combat better than Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. At the time, it had a revolutionary combat system that focused on the finesse and grace of using the lightsaber, allowing you to deflect shots, select three distinct lightsaber styles with their own combos, and differ things up with force powers.
It has a fantastic single-player campaign that allows you to live out the power fantasy of being a Jedi, and the multiplayer mode was iconic for its lightsaber duels and hectic deathmatches. It's a game with an incredibly high skill ceiling due to the intricacies of the combat, and no Star Wars game can match its intensity.
- Looking for the best multiplayer games on PS5? We've got a whole list of choices that you can check out
What is the best Star Wars game?
1 - Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II
Click to enlarge- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Release date: 2006
- Platforms: Xbox, PC, Mac
- Key features:
- Follows on from the original and ups the ante in every way
- Plenty of new force powers
- If you loved the original, this is a must-play RPG
The fight between KOTOR I and II is serious for some people, and while the first game found its quality in evoking Star Wars through and through, its sequel shines by being admirably anti-Star Wars in its narrative and thematic approach. It has many of the same mechanics and systems as KOTOR I, but it brings to life an honest and thoughtful deconstruction of the Star Wars mythos, its morality, and the role of the Force within it all.
It takes place five years after KOTOR, with you playing a Jedi exile who is rediscovering their connection with the Force, while on a mission to find the remaining Jedi and fight back against the forces of the Sith. KOTOR II is one of the most unique portrayals of Star Wars media that you can find, and that's helped it stay fresh nearly 20 years after the fact, making it our choice for the best Star Wars game of all time.
That's it for our list of best Star Wars games. For more Star Wars guides, keep reading GGRecon.
