Between 1977 when the first Star Wars movie was released and 2020, over 90 million copies of 100 Star Wars games have been sold. Star Wars games are a popular video and online casino South Africa game genre with some based directly on the 12 films and others relying on the Expanded Universe in which Star Wars characters and storylines expand to other forms of media – books, comic books, etc.
Early Star Wars games that were licensed by Star Wars creators George Lucas were action titles that focused on a single film scene or retold stories in the original trilogy. Later on, when Lucas created his own video game development company he was able to exert more control over the narratives and the games. The narratives became more complex and featured CGI cut scenes and voice-overs. Titles followed the continuity of the films.
After LucasArts’ closure, Electronic Arts took over the rights to produce Star Wars video games. As of 2021 LucasArts has shared the rights to produce new Star Wars between Electronic Arts and other Lucas film games
Opinions vary but Star Wars aficionados generally agree that the best games that have been officially licensed by Lucasfilm include:
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars Squadrons was released in 2020 and is the most recent officially licensed Lucasfilm release. The game is set following The Return of the Jedi, following the Rebel’s victory in the Battle of Endor. The game involves a combination of starfighter sims, strategization and teamwork. It’s a first-person space combat game in which the player wages war from the cockpit of the spaceship. You can play as part of the Rebel Alliance or the Empire and choose your spaceship – anything from TIE fighters and Star Destroyers to X-Wings.
There are also multistage, back-and-forth space battles that incorporate capital ships and AI pilots along with 5-vs.-5 dogfight fighter craft modes. The game is an immersive and enduring strategic experience with highlights that include the flight mechanics and multiplayer options.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy was developed in 2003 by Raven Software and released by LucasArts. The game follows Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and is the fourth and final installment in the Star Wars: Jedi Knight game series. This is a single-player story which follows a new student at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy, Jaden Korr, who is tasked with investigating the Disciples of Ragnos, a Dark Jedi cult.
While Jaden, whose character the player takes, learns the way of The Force he must enter combat with blasters, standard, dual and double-bladed light sabers and other types of Force powers. It’s possible to customize not only many of the powers — light sabers can be customized from handle to blade — but also Jaden’s appearance – gender, species, clothing, etc.
The game can be played in multiplayer mode over a local area network or online. This game is prized for its gameplay and customization as well as the ability to complete missions in any order desired. The Jedi Academy light saber combat is still spoken about by many as the best in any Star Wars game.
Lego Star Wars
Whoever had the bright idea to put Lego and Star Wars together must be gleefully counting the bucks. No matter…..these games have entranced and enthralled millions of players around the world. From Lego Star Wars: The Video Game to Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy the combination of family-friendly Star Wars-themed games plus the popular Lego brand has been a winner again and again.
The plots of the games include the characters from the film in Lego form. They play their parts in light-hearted, humorous form using identifiable playable and unlockable images. Images include many of the best-loved Star Wars characters from Sith, Rey, Han Solo and Jedi to Jar, Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron and JarBinks. Each character has his/her own special abilities and each game has multiple levels with options to replay any of the levels at the gamer’s leisure.
Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Battlefront II is a remake of Battlefront but critics say that it’s just as good – if not better — than the original. The game has proved to be popular because players can explore events from all three trilogies in one compact gaming event. In addition to exploring characters and storylines there are also playable maps that visit the locations that spanned the sagas so regardless of your film preferences, you’ll find plots that suit your interests in the first- and third-person shooter game.
The game features along with a wide range of multiplayer options – any Star Wars fan will feel right at home.
You don’t have to be a fan of the Star Wars movies to enjoy the wide variety of Star Wars games but it helps!
Players can choose between the VR element or the standard mode as they test their creativity with flightstick controls, custom loadouts and coordination/communication with teammates via kill-or-be-killed options.
Star Wars Battlefront is a first- and third-person shooter in which the gamer plays as characters on locations from the original trilogy (plus the lawless desert world Jakku from the sequel trilogy). The graphics capture a true Star Wars feel, not to mention weapons including light sabers, ships, blasters and AT-ATs and AT-STs.