There are a lot of Star Wars video games. Over 100 in fact, which puts it right alongside Mario as the franchises with the most expansive libraries in gaming. While much of this is due to the popularity of the franchise itself, the fact that Lucasarts was dedicated to releasing multiple games every year in the '90s and '00s made sure the fans would never run out of games to play.
Staring with 1982's The Empire Strikes Back on the Atari 2600, enthusiastic developers have thoroughly explored the original Star Wars trilogy. Fans can now pick and choose how they want to experience the events of the trilogy. 2d side scrollers, flight games, and large-scale battles ensure that every fan has the means to live the custom Star Wars trilogy experience they desire.
Tatooine - Star Wars (1991)
This charming Nintendo Entertainment System adaptation of the original film features a unique, somewhat open-world experience of Tatooine. This portion of the game sets you off as Luke from a top-down perspective as you explore the dune sea in your landspeeder. You'll encounter plenty of Banthas and laser-firing turrets as you explore the desert planet.
There are various caves and other locations around the map, when you approach one you enter a 2d side scroller level where you can find powerups and allies to recruit. Navigating a Sandcrawler with creative platforming elements will lead you to R2-D2, Obi-Wan can be found in a cave, while Han Solo can be picked up in the Mos Eisley Cantina before departing for the Death Star.
The Death Star - Super Star Wars (1992)
The Super Star Wars trilogy is a terrific series of fast-paced run-and-gun games released on the Super Nintendo. The games received high praise during the golden generation of 2d gaming and Lucasfilm even produced an Indiana Jones game in the same style. The Super Star Wars series was rereleased on Wii Virtual Console and the first game was released on PS4 to coincide with the release of 2015's Battlefront.
Super Star Wars breaks the Death Star portion of the game into three levels and players can choose to play as Luke, Han, or Chewbacca. The second of these levels is the best, offering both verticality and horizontality as the player rescues the princess. The three stages are each quite different as TIE fighters whiz overhead in the hangar bay level and the third of these levels require the player to scale the vertical tractor beam core shaft.
Battle of Yavin - Star Wars X-Wing (1993)
For gamers who have been around a long time, the nostalgia of 1993's X-Wing game makes it one that fans will never forget. The graphics may be outdated but the experience is still as thrilling as ever. The game was massively popular and launched that successful X-Wing series of the 1990s with numerous sequels and expansions.
For younger games without the nostalgia for 1993's X-Wing, the immersive Star Wars Battle Pod is definitely the best way to experience the Battle of Yavin. The only problem is that fans have to track down an Arcade with one. Aside from that, take your pick. The Battle of Yavin is one of the greatest sequences in movie history and has been recreated in dozens of games.
Battle of Hoth - Shadows of the Empire (1996)
The one Star Wars event that can rival the Battle of Yavin in of the number of video game adaptations is the Battle of Hoth. The reason such levels are so popular, aside from being from one of the best movies, is the unique objective of trussing an AT-AT by attaching a tow cable and flying around it. This results in the mammoth machine tripping and collapsing, as seen in the film The Empire Strikes Back.
The video game for Lucasfilm's 1996 multimedia project Shadows of the Empire made a 3d version of the battle accessible to both N64 owners and PC gamers alike, especially since it was the first level of the game. Players take the role of Dash Rendar, an original Han Solo-esque character created for the story. With Star Fox 64 releasing a few months later, it was an incredible time for action flight games on the N64.
Dagobah - Star Wars: Yoda Stories (1997)
In this procedurally generated game, players take the role of Luke Skywalker as he receives Jedi training from Yoda. Each playthrough sees Luke land on Dagobah and find Yoda who gives him an objective that sends him to one of several other planets. Unfortunately, the majority of the gameplay takes place on these other planets with only a small section on Dagobah itself.
While it may not be the more exciting or popular Star Wars game of all time, the fact that an entire game about Luke's Jedi training with Yoda exists is a testament to the breadth of the Star Wars gaming franchise. This Hal Barwood-designed game was actually a sequel, following up 1996's Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures and Indy does make a cameo himself.
Bespin Duel - Battlefront (2015)
The Battlefront series is one of the best ways to experience the galaxy's most epic battles. Players can choose from various rebel soldiers and stormtroopers in a massive battle. But players who find a hero token can choose from several iconic characters from the Star Wars universe like Han Solo, Darth Maul, and Princess Leia. Each has their own special abilities to help turn the tide of the battle.
Here is where the saga's greatest lightsaber duel comes into play. The Bespin DLC level features the carbon freeze chamber and Luke and Vader are both playable characters, seeing the two clash here in glorious HD graphics is just breathtaking. The only problem is you will need a friend to play your opponent. Alternatively, the fan-created mod Movie Duels 2 for Jedi Academy allows gamers a quick setup for this iconic duel.
Jabba's Sail Barge - Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007)
In 2005, Traveler's Tales released LEGO Star Wars and launched the massively popular LEGO video game series. The company has continued to release a LEGO crossover game almost every year since them with Indiana Jones, DC, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter all getting adaptations to name a few. The series brings a great level of fun that kids of all ages get a kick out of.
2006's LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and 2007's LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga each features the level Pit of Carkoon. Luke, Lando, Han, and Chewie begin their escape from aboard the skiffs where they battle Boba Fett before making their way onto the Sail Barge. A new version of the level is on the way with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, due for release on April 5th, 2022.
Battle of Endor (Group) - Battlefront (2004)
Being able to take part in massive iconic Star Wars battles for the first time was a mind-blowing experience for fans in 2004. The game featured all of the iconic land battles of the Star Wars movies, including the Docks of Kashyyyk from the yet-to-be-release Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Other planets like Tatooine, Yavin IV, and Rhen Var also appeared as maps.
And arguably the battle fans were more excited for was the forest moon of Endor, which had never been done before in a 3D console game. Players could control rebel soldiers and stormtroopers, choosing between a first-person or third-person perspective, and could ride speeder bikes and AT-STs. Various versions of the forest moon of Endor have appeared on every major Battlefront game from both Pandemic Studios and EA/DICE.
Battle of Endor (Space) - Rogue Squadron II (2001)
It's a Trap! The third act of Return of the Jedi is as epic as they come. The entire Rebel Alliance lightspeeds into orbit around Endor to find that they have walked into a trap as the entire Imperial fleet featuring dozens of Star Destroyers plus a Super Star Destroyer and a working Death Star cannon.
The terrific Nintendo Gamecube game Rogue Squadron II allowed gamers to be immersed in this thrilling battle complete with John Williams's exhilarating score! The game breaks the battle into two parts. First players experience the battle outside the Death Star. Then they can choose between Wedge Antilles in his X-Wing or Lando Calrissian in the Millennium Falcon and fly into the Death Star core and blow it up. It's every bit as satisfying as it sounds!
Final Duel With Vader - Star Wars Trilogy Arcade (1998)
SEGA's 1998 game Star Wars Arcade brought the greatest moments of the franchise to life in a popular on-rails arcade shooter. The battles of Yavin, Hoth, and Endor are wonderfully experienced in first-person flight, on-foot, and speeder bike missions. There are also two bonus missions where the player assumes the role of Luke Skywalker, lightsaber in all.
The second of these bonus missions features a one on one duel with Darth Vader aboard the second Death Star, to the audience of Emperor Palpatine. Vader is as intimidating as ever as he towers over the player. The game can be played on an emulator as finding a working cabinet for the full experience may be difficult. Alternatively, the fan-made Movie Duels mod is recommended and other options include the fighting game Masters of Teras Kasi.
