Pull the blinds and turn off the phone, it’s time to head to the Game Room and lock in on some hardcore meta-gaming action. In the Game Room we will explore the world of gaming in all its many incarnations, while lingering over that corner of the meta-verse where games and literature converge. Bust out your opinion and your favorite snack, it’s game time.
With the recent closure of the LucasArts game design studio, as discussed in a previous post, I found myself listing out the best games of the Star Wars franchise in my head. (As you might have noticed, ranking things is a compulsion.) Since all of the things clattering around in my head seem to shove against one another, I thought I would transfer my list into writing. What follows is my list of the Top Ten Best Star Wars Computer Games of all Time. Let me know what your list is and where I went wrong.
The games in the list must be Star Wars themed and must be electronic. There is no preference shown towards any gamming platform. All system are welcome into the list: PC, XBOX, Nintendo, Play Station, and all the rest. I also attempted to steer clear of listing multiple versions of the same game such as sequels or reissues.
Top Ten Best Star Wars Computer Games of all Time
1) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Developer: BioWare
- Platform: PC, XBOX, MAC
- Released: 2003
BioWare is one of the best developers of role-playing games in the industry. In Knights of the Old Republic, they have delivered a compelling and satisfying RPG for Star Wars. The game is set thousands of years before the films and allows you to take on the role of a Jedi. Story choices push your moral scale towards the light or dark side of the force. Game-play allows you to explore the galaxy in pursuit of missions, while allowing you some of the freedom found in less story driven games. Knights of the Old Republic is a must play for any fan of Star Wars and electronic RPGs.
2) Star Wars: Republic Commando
- Developer: LucasArts
- Platform: PC, XBOX
- Released: 2005
Take command of a squadron of Republic Commandos in this game. The game format has your squad sneaking around fighting the enemies in a format more similar to Call of Duty than the other Star Wars game titles. As commander of Delta squad you control your own actions, while giving commands to the rest of the squad. Combat can be challenging, if you do not master command of your squad. A highly satisfying game experience.
3) Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
- Developer: Raven Software
- Platform: PC, XBOX, GameCube, MAC
- Released: 2002
What’s not to like with Jedi Outcast: amazing combat sequences, innovative controls, and gripping plot. In the game you play Kyle Katarn, a mercenary who travels the galaxy attempting to uncover a plot to build an army of dark warriors. Your travels take you to many planets where you come face to face with the many faces of evil. With light saber and force powers you find many creative ways to put down the bad guys. Jedi Outcast should be on your Star Wars play list.
4) Star Wars: Empire at War
- Developer: Petroglyph
- Platform: PC,MAC
- Released: 2006
Looking for a Star Wars real time strategy game. This is it. The game action takes place both planetside and in outer space. Players may choose between the Empire and the Rebellion when playing the game. Both sides provide unique game play flavor. Empire at War is the definitive Star Wars RTS.
5) Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II
- Developer: Factor 5
- Platform: GameCube
- Released: 2001
Rogue Squadron II was made for the GameCube and managed to outperform its predecessor. The game is highlighted by playing the role of either Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles from the original Star Wars films. If you ever wanted to slip into the cockpit of an X-Wing, snowspeeder, or even the Millennium Flacon then this is the game. In the game you select missions to fly where you can earn medals while achieving the mission objectives. The story surrounds the events of the original films and for a hardcore Star Wars fan can be quite entertaining. The game play is intuitive and satisfying. Rogue Squadron a great game.
6) Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Developer: BioWare
- Platform: PC
- Released: 2011
The MMO by BioWare allows players to select from both Dark Side and Light Side characters. Character development rises from mundane beginnings to influential positions within the galaxy. The game play and graphics make the game very enjoyable. Even more enjoyable is the now free to play business model adapted for the game.
7) Star Wars: Battlefront
- Developer: Pandemic Studios
- Platform: PC, Mobile, PlayStation 2, XBOX, MAC
- Released: 2004
Battlefront is a team-based shooter that allows the players to jump right into the action. You run around on some of the most iconic battlefields in the Star Wars universe blasting away the enemy and taking control of vehicles. If you like Star Wars and the chaos of a battlefield, then this game is for you.
8) Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
- Developer: Totally Games
- Platform: PC
- Released: 1999
A space flight simulator game that puts you in the galaxy of the original Star Wars films. Playing Ace Azzameen, a member of a merchant family, you rise from humble beginnings to a lead role in the attack on the second Death Star above Endor. At the controls of everything from a Corellian Transport to an X-Wing and eventually even the Millennium Falcon you learn the skills of an ace pilot. X-Wing Alliance provides hours of enjoyable game play.
9) 
LEGO Star Wars
- Developer: Traveller’s Tales
- Platform: X360, PS3, Wii, DS, IP, PS2, PSP, BB
- Released: 2005
Using the familiar Lego characters cast as Star Wars heroes, you rediscover the events of Episode III. This action adventure game takes you through chapters of the story with a slice of humor mixed in. The game play provides a softer touch that forgives failure with little negative effect. Lego Star Wars is a fun, lighthearted game.
10) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Developer: Krome Studios
- Platform: XBOX, Play Station 3, Wii, DS, IP, PS2, PSP, BB
- Released: 2008
In the Force Unleashed you play as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. How cool is that? The story is strong and contains various twists and turns, as you hunt down the remaining Jedi. The game engine allows you to explore the many combat features expected from a powerful Jedi with great satisfaction.
Good list. I’d actually place Kotor2 ahead of the first version at the top of the list if it wasn’t that Kotor2 proved to be a lot more unstable on my system.
For one thing, the opportunity to convert your traveling companions into Jedi is a nice element and the extensive opportunities for the tweaking of weapons into truly customizable tools of destruction is also noteworthy.
Kotor-2’s stability problems was the only real drawback to drop it out of the number one slot for me, but in both Kotor and Kotor-2, the replayability of the games are probably their strongest attraction for me.