Since the release of the first Star Wars movie in 1977, the franchise has been expanded to various mediums, including video games. Over the years, there have been numerous Star Wars video games across multiple platforms. In this article, we will go through a comprehensive list of Star Wars video games by release date.
1982: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600)
The first Star Wars video game was released in 1982 for the Atari 2600. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was a side-scrolling shooter where players took control of a snowspeeder to take down AT-AT walkers on the planet Hoth. The game was challenging, but it was a fan-favorite and considered a classic.
1983: Star Wars (Arcade)
The Star Wars arcade game was released in 1983 and allowed players to pilot an X-Wing through the events of the first Star Wars movie. The game was unique for its time, as it used vector graphics to create 3D-like graphics. The game was also notable for its use of digitized voice samples from the movie.
1987: Star Wars (NES)
The first Star Wars game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was released in 1987. The game was a side-scrolling shooter where players took control of Luke Skywalker as he battled through various levels based on the events of the first Star Wars movie. The game was known for its music and sound effects, which were some of the best on the NES.
1991: Star Wars: X-Wing (PC)
Star Wars: X-Wing was released in 1991 and was a space simulation game that allowed players to pilot an X-Wing in various missions. The game was praised for its graphics, sound, and attention to detail. It was also one of the first Star Wars games to have a storyline that was set after the events of the original trilogy.
1993: Star Wars: Rebel Assault (PC)
Star Wars: Rebel Assault was released in 1993 and was a rail shooter that combined live-action footage with computer-generated graphics. The game had players take control of a Rebel pilot as they battled through various missions. The game was praised for its use of live-action footage and was one of the first games to use it extensively.
1994: Super Star Wars (SNES)
Super Star Wars was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994. The game was a side-scrolling shooter that allowed players to take control of Luke Skywalker as he battled through various levels based on the events of the first Star Wars movie. The game was known for its difficulty and was a favorite among SNES owners.
1995: Star Wars: Dark Forces (PC)
Star Wars: Dark Forces was released in 1995 and was a first-person shooter that allowed players to take control of Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working for the Rebel Alliance. The game was notable for its use of 3D graphics and its storyline, which was set before the events of the original trilogy.
1997: Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II (PC)
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II was released in 1997 and was a first-person shooter that allowed players to take control of Kyle Katarn as he learned to become a Jedi. The game was praised for its use of lightsabers and force powers, and it was one of the first games to allow players to choose between the light and dark sides of the Force.
1998: Star Wars Rogue Squadron (N64)
Star Wars Rogue Squadron was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. The game allowed players to pilot various starfighters through various missions based on the events of the original trilogy. The game was praised for its graphics and sound, and it was one of the best games on the N64.
1999: Star Wars: Episode I Racer (N64)
Star Wars: Episode I Racer was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. The game was based on the pod-racing scene from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and allowed players to pilot various podracers through various tracks. The game was known for its speed and graphics, and it was one of the best racing games on the N64.
2000: Star Wars: Demolition (PS1)
Star Wars: Demolition was released for the PlayStation in 2000. The game was a vehicular combat game that allowed players to pilot various vehicles from the Star Wars universe, including AT-STs and snowspeeders. The game was known for its fun multiplayer mode and its use of destructible environments.
2001: Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (PC)
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds was released in 2001 and was a real-time strategy game that allowed players to take control of various factions from the Star Wars universe. The game used the same engine as the popular Age of Empires series, and it was praised for its use of the Star Wars license.
2002: Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast (PC)
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast was released in 2002 and was a first-person shooter that allowed players to take control of Kyle Katarn as he continued his journey as a Jedi. The game was praised for its use of lightsabers and force powers, and it was one of the best Star Wars games of its time.
2003: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC, Xbox)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was released in 2003 and was an RPG that allowed players to create their own character and explore the Star Wars universe thousands of years before the events of the movies. The game was praised for its storyline, characters, and use of the Star Wars license, and it is considered one of the best Star Wars games of all time.
2004: Star Wars: Battlefront (PC, PS2, Xbox)
Star Wars: Battlefront was released in 2004 and was a multiplayer shooter that allowed players to take control of various factions from the Star Wars universe, including the Rebels, Empire, and Republic. The game was known for its fun multiplayer mode and its use of the Star Wars license.
2005: Star Wars: Republic Commando (PC, Xbox)
Star Wars: Republic Commando was released in 2005 and was a first-person shooter that allowed players to take control of a squad of clone troopers during the Clone Wars. The game was praised for its use of the Star Wars license and its unique gameplay mechanics, which focused on squad-based combat.
2006: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Multiple Platforms)
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy was released in 2006 and was a Lego-themed action-adventure game that allowed players to relive the events of the original trilogy. The game was known for its humor and its use of Lego bricks to recreate iconic Star Wars scenes.
2008: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Multiple Platforms)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released in 2008 and was an action-adventure game that allowed players to take control of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller. The game was praised for its use of the Force and its storyline, which was considered to be one of the best in the Star Wars universe.
2010: Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
Star Wars: The Old Republic was released in 2010 and was an MMORPG that allowed players to create their own character and explore the Star Wars universe thousands of years before the events of the movies. The game was praised for its storyline, characters, and use of the Star Wars license, and it was one of the most popular MMORPGs of its time.
2015: Star Wars Battlefront (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Star Wars Battlefront was released in 2015 and was a reboot of the original Battlefront series. The game allowed players to take control of various factions from the Star Wars universe, including the Rebels, Empire, and First Order. The game was praised for its graphics and sound, but criticized for its lack of content.
2019: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Multiple Platforms)
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released in 2019 and was an action-adventure game that allowed players to take control of a young Jedi named Cal Kestis as he fought against the Empire. The game was praised for its storyline, characters, and use of lightsabers and force powers.
Conclusion
Star Wars has had a long and storied history in the video game industry, with numerous games across multiple platforms. From the classic games of the ’80s and ’90s to the modern games of today, Star Wars video games have always been popular among fans of the franchise. Whether you’re a fan of shooters, RPGs, or racing games, there’s a Star Wars game out there for you.
