Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel remain some of the most beloved titles in the Star Wars franchise, with its more recent release versions providing the easiest ways to play the RPGs. Developed by Bioware in 2003 for the original Xbox, KOTOR and its Obsidian-developed sequel KOTOR 2 aided in introducing previously-untold stories and eras of Star Wars lore to fans through video games. Nearly 20 years later, KOTOR remains a classic RPG series for Star Wars fans with limited ways to experience the adventure.
Despite remaining one of the most well-received Star Wars titles in the history of the franchise, Knights of the Old Republic has seen a very limited slate of releases between the original title and its sequel since the original Xbox release. While the KOTOR Remake is set for the PlayStation 5, Sony’s platforms currently don’t have a way to play the original titles, leaving fewer options for fans who want to experience the games as they once were. Aspyr Media, the studio attached to the KOTOR Remake, had previously brought numerous Star Wars titles to modern platforms. This extended to more recent releases of KOTOR.
The original PC versions of Knights of the Old Republic may have been originally handled by their respective developers, but Aspyr Media would go on to update KOTOR 2’s Steam release as well as handle the porting of both KOTOR titles to the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. The versions on the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices allow fans to experience one of the greatest titles in the Star Wars franchise on the go, but portability isn’t enough to propel the Switch versions ahead as the best ways to experience the legendary titles.
Star Wars KOTOR - The Best Ways To Play
The Nintendo Switch port of Knights of the Old Republic 2 currently lacks the promised Restored Content DLC, with developer Aspyr Media missing the KOTOR 2 DLC’s launch window. The impact of the Restored Content to KOTOR 2’s playability is transformative, adding and restoring several hours of gameplay and story content by the hands of The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod team. While the original version of the title was already playable, albeit rushed to release, the Restored Content Mod remains an essential piece of the title’s overall story, particularly contextualizing the events of the game’s ending. The availability of this content is a key factor toward the PC and mobile versions being the best way for players to experience KOTOR 2, but the original KOTOR isn’t as clean-cut.
The first KOTOR has a litany of mods to improve a player’s experience with the title, but the PC version suffers in ways not present in KOTOR 2. KOTOR 2’s Steam version updates by Aspyr Media included widescreen , controller compatibility, and full Steam Workshop that make the game much more intuitive and -friendly through the base game and the installation of mods. The versions released on the Nintendo Switch and for mobile devices are more streamlined by comparison, but for fans who wish to play the game with the available improvements and mods, the mobile version may be the best bet with the PC version right behind it.
The availability of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic leaves very few options for players wanting to experience the titles at their very best. The Xbox and Nintendo Switch releases are left with content that fans are unable to access, leaving them adequate for a first play yet lacking for a definitive experience. KOTOR's Community Patch (also installable on Android) as well as the availability of mods on both mobile devices and PC place the releases of the Knights of the Old Republic titles on both platforms head and shoulders above the pack, making them the best places for fans of the franchise to experience the adventures of a bygone era in a galaxy far, far away.
