The 10 Best Star Wars GamesHappy Star Wars day! Want a trove of games—released a long time ago, but in a galaxy just down the way—to help you while away the nearly 5,500 hours that stand between today and the ballyhooed debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18?Here you go then, a compendium of gaming's brightest vamps on George Lucas's Campbellian space opera, now living in what Disney calls its "Star Wars Legends" line (formerly the "Expanded Universe"). That, if you hadn't heard, is Disney's controversial wave-of-the-hand relegation of everything not the films, TV shows or recent books to "maybe it did/didn't happen" status. So much for Luke Skywalker rubbing elbows with Kyle Katarn, or you usurping a 4,000-year-old Sith Lord to become one yourself.But never mind that, because games are innately anti-canonical—subversion's in their DNA. And while some on this list were more genre acolytes than pioneers when they first appeared a decade or more ago, a few managed to be exemplars of the medium for their time.
My only guideline in culling these 10 from the record books, was that they had to be playable on currently available platforms. So think of these as less a "best Star Wars games ever" lineup (though they're nearly that) than the best you can sample without having to track down the original hardware or software.Star Wars: Knights of the Old RepublicArguably the apotheosis of all the Star Wars games, Bioware's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic transported players thousands of years into the galaxy's past, folding iconic lore like Jedis, Sith Lords, lightsabers and droids into a baroque reinterpretation of Lucas's science fantasy verse. You'll find some who'll swear Bioware's take on Star Wars bests even the original trilogy (including The Empire Strikes Back), and given the caliber of games Bioware was releasing at the time (both Baldur's Gate installments), it's easy to see why., Mac, SteamStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith LordsStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords was a bug-riddled and unfinished mess when it first arrived in late 2004.
Time and sufficient patching have thankfully rectified most of its shortcomings, allowing players to experience one of the most insightful and reflective Star Wars stories on the books. Credit design lead Chris Avellone (Planescape: Torment, Pillars of Eternity), whose exhilarating vamp on the Star Wars universe simultaneously deconstructed it., Steam,Star Wars: The Old RepublicWhat if the esteemed studio that gave us Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic crafted a modern MMO that revisited the era's storied 4,000-year-old playground? EA's Star Wars: The Old Republic, released in 2011 and still going strong, capitulates to MMO tropes (like fetch-and-deliver quests ad infinitum), but dressed in better-than-average, more personalized storylines.Star Wars: TIE FighterSure, 1993's Star Wars: X-Wing was terrific, but it took 1994's TIE Fighter to catapult developer Totally Games' series to legendary status. For the first time in gaming history, players could campaign for the other side, exploring the Empire's strangely compelling machinations--peace by the sword--through ingenious white-knuckled sorties, piloting vulnerable Imperial star fighters without combat backstops like deflector shields.
TIE Fighter remains one of the best flight simulations ever made, a tour de force of mission design, plausibly brutal Newtonian deep space dogfighting and subversive storytelling.Lego Star Wars: The Complete SagaMy favorite moment in the friendly, rollicking, collection-angled Lego Star Wars games happens early on, in Lego Star Wars itself when you're poking around Mos Eisley, playing co-op with a friend. At one point you come across a pile of unassembled Lego bits and bobs. You don't have to do anything. You can just walk on by. But tap a button to whip the mess together, and you'll find yourself staring down an Imperial AT-ST. At which point my companion yelled: "We just built our own boss monster!"How to play: Android, iOS, Mac, SteamSuper Star WarsI'm skirting my platform stricture here, but if you're still rocking a Wii, you can pull this platforming run-and-gun down via Nintendo's Virtual Console for 800 points ($8). Take note of the game's first-person, pseudo-3D levels, where you can zip around flattened Tatooine landscapes in Luke's land speeder, lobbing energy balls at enemies.
Nintendo called this "Mode 7" back in the day, and while it looks dated today, seeing it in games like F-Zero and Super Star Wars in the early 1990s was a revelation.How to play: Virtual Console (Wii)Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces IIStar Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II stands as the first Star Wars game that let you experience, however crudely, the combat life of a Jedi Knight. Other games had let you swing the franchise's iconic lightsaber or pull off Force tricks from sidewise perspectives, but Dark Forces II put that lightsaber (and those force powers) in your hands, then leveled the camera where your eyes would be, propelling you through puzzle-filled levels flush with enemies you could optionally choke or throw or envelop with tendrils of bluish lightning., SteamStar Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi OutcastStar Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast may harbor lower lows (uneven level design) than its predecessor, but it's also packing higher highs (lightsaber play, force powers). And it remains an essential play if the whole "be a Jedi Knight" thing ranks high on your list of Star Wars-ian fantasies.
, Mac, SteamStar Wars: Empire at WarNo one's yet produced a Star Wars strategy game to rival the genre's best, but Star Wars: Empire at War comes the closest. Developer Petroglyph, harboring designers who'd worked on pioneering the real-time strategy games Dune II and Command & Conquer, folded competent terrestrial and space-based real-time strategy battles into a galaxy-spanning meta campaign that gave players control of heroic figures like Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader and the Emperor himself., Mac, SteamStar Wars: Galactic BattlegroundsYes, developer Ensemble slapped a coat of Star Wars paint on Age of Empires II, but worse things have happened in gaming. LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack for Nintendo Wii U By: Warner Home VideoThis item ships for free.* SquareTrade 2-Year Electronics Accident Protection Plan:Decline Protection LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack for Nintendo Wii U Characters and storylines come together in a dynamic world with the LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack for Nintendo Wii U, which includes the LEGO Dimensions video game, a Toy Pad, LEGO Gateway building bricks, three mini figures and a Batmobile vehicle.
The evil mastermind, Lord Vortech, has gathered minions from all different LEGO worlds to help him collect the Foundational Elements of the LEGO Multiverse, so he can gain complete control as supreme ruler. To do so, he opened a mysterious vortex that suddenly appeared in different worlds, sweeping characters away. Place the included Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle mini figures onto the Toy Pad to jump into the action and work together to thwart Vortech's attempts at supremacy. Help save the LEGO Multiverse from the evil Lord Vortech by playing with different mini figures from different LEGO worlds in the LEGO Dimensions video game and using different combinations of vehicles and gadgets Starter Pack comes with the LEGO Dimensions video game, LEGO Toy Pad, bricks to build the LEGO Gateway, three LEGO mini figures and a LEGO Batmobile vehicle 14 Adventure Worlds total; access three with the Starter Pack (DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The LEGO Movie) Purchase up to three different types of expansion packs (sold separately) to access new vehicles, mini figures, gadgets and levels
Vehicles and gadgets can be built up to three times to unleash new abilities with each upgrade Drop up to seven mini figures, vehicles and gadgets onto the Toy Pad to bring them all into the video game at once (additional figures, vehicles and gadgets sold separately) Toy Pad lights up, flashes and changes colors to give you hints as to where to go, what to look for and how to solve puzzles Play alone or with a buddy Compatible with Nintendo Wii U gaming consoles (sold separately) E10+ ESRB video game rating for Cartoon Violence and Crude Humor LEGO Dimensions video game Bricks to build the LEGO Gateway Three LEGO mini figures (Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle) When a mysterious and powerful vortex suddenly appears in various LEGO® worlds, different characters from DC Comics™, Lord of the Rings™ and the LEGO® Movie are swept away. To save their friends, Batman™, Gandalf™ and Wyldstyle™ bravely jump into the vortex to rescue their friends and fight to save all of LEGO humanity.
Let your creativity be your guide as you build the LEGO Gateway to adventure, journeying through unexpected worlds and teaming-up with unlikely allies on the quest to defeat the evil Lord Vortech. Play with characters you never thought you could see in a LEGO game together, using vehicles and weapons you never thought possible. LEGO Bad Cop™ driving the DeLorean Time Machine...why not?! The Ninjago Masters of Spinjitsu fighting alongside Wonder Woman™...yes, please! Get ready to break the rules, because the only rule with LEGO Dimensions is that there are no rules.The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack is all you need to begin - build your base and embark on a fantastic quest. Included in the LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack: LEGO Dimensions videogameLEGO Toy PadLEGO Gateway building bricks3 LEGO minifigures (Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle)LEGO Batmobile vehicleFor the first time in any LEGO videogame, characters from a mix of the best brands in the universe join forces and battle in worlds outside of their own.
By purchasing additional expansion packs, you can grow your collection with a variety of your favorite brands to create even more crazy combinations.Bring up to 7 characters, vehicles and weapons into the game all at once by dropping them on the LEGO Gateway for the most exciting and action-filled game around Play Alone or with a Friend. Let your imagination guide your solo journey or have a friend join the adventure with co-operative, drop-in/out play. The Starter Pack Will Last. One LEGO Toy Pad and the videogame found in the initial Starter Pack will offer continued compatibility with future Expansion Packs for years to come. No compatibility chart necessary. Product Dimensions (in inches):15.2 x 11.0 x 3.1Next »This product is amazing!! ProsEasy To Set UpGood InstructionsGraphicsGreat ValueQuality ConstructionConsBest UsesAdultsKidsTeenagersWas this a gift?:NoIt is fun for any age, the possibilities are amazing ProsGood InstructionsGraphicsGreat ValueQuality ConstructionConsNo Online PlayBest UsesAdultsKidsMultiple PlayersTeenagersWas this a gift?:NoFor the lego lovers Would recommend Super fun gift I would purchase this item again ProsEasy To Set UpGood InstructionsQuality ConstructionConsBest UsesAdultsKidsTeenagersWas this a gift?:YesVery pleased with our purchase Great item!