50 Essential Star Wars Games You Must Play

By Darragh O'Connor / July 20, 2013

5. Star Wars Trilogy Arcade (1998) - Arcade

Star Wars Trilogy Arcade is an arcade game first released in 1998 and is a 3-D rail shooter based on the original trilogy of Star Wars films and was released along with the special editions of these films. Like Podracer, this game allows you to physically be a part of the attack on the Death Star, the Battle of Hoth, and duel Vader. There is no home port that can give you that. Again, try to find this one.

4. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002) - Windows, Mac, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube

Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is the ultimate Star Wars game: you run around the galaxy fighting the new Empire and you can actually cut limbs off with your lightsaber. The force powers are tasteful and makes you feel like a Jedi. There are no superfluous additions to this game, and there is no point where you feel jaded or bored, like most after a play through of Force Unleashed II. Jedi Outcast has an engaging plot and the action-packed gameplay is still outstanding 11 years later. The control of the force must be stressed again, you really feel like you have full control of the Force. While in The Force Unleashed series you have too much power, and feel more like a Roman god than a warrior monk. Then add to that poor camera issues. It is simple, less is more. Jedi Knight II didnt have any of these issues, it is the best action-based Star Wars game ever made. It is on the original Xbox, and if youre a fan, you must own this game! The sequel Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is set again in the sprawling worlds of the Expanded Universe where players can walk the path of the Jedi and learn the ways of the force or choose to play as mercenaries and use more conventional weapons such as blasters.

3. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

This game bridges the two Star Wars trilogies and introduces a new protagonist, Galen "Starkiller" Marek , as Darth Vader's secret apprentice. The Force Unleashed has an extremely compelling story, robust physics, impressive art and soundtrack. Reviews are mixed on this game, yet it remains one of the fastest-selling Star Wars video game. You never tire of swatting stormtroopers like flies with the Force.

2. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) - PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation Portable

If you havent played this game, stop reading and go buy this game. While not a movie tie-in, this game lets you play in the world of the movies; it puts you in the action. This is the Star Wars Universe told from battle-to- battle, and not just focused on the heros journey. You really feel that every man matters. This sequel to Star Wars: Battlefront added playable heroes such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a huge number of vehicles and maps. It still has a crazy amount of replayability. I have been playing this game since 2005, and it hasnt aged a day.

1. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (2003) - Windows, Xbox, Mac

The Old Republic was for birthed on the Xbox with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in 2003. KOTOR is a masterpiece: everything about this game is perfect, the characters, the dialogue interaction, the games design and gameplay are all stellar. KOTOR game set the standard for every Star Wars game since, and it was the reason I bought an X-Box. Its impact is still felt today with ever-growing library of Old Republic novels and the free-to-play Old Republic. I would argue that it is better than the films in some ways.

There we go, thats all she wrote. I hope you enjoyed this list, and use it to make your own. Id love to hear your criticism on what I did wrong and who should've made the list that didn't and who didn't deserve to make the cut. Please comment below...