A long time ago in a galaxy that we currently reside in, a man called George Lucas wrote a space opera that would become a cultural phenomenon spawning several movies, TV shows, the worst toy franchising licensing deal in history, and of course, Video Games. I grew up on Star Wars Video games, from the FMV Rebel Assault to the phenomenal Rogue Squadron games starting on the Nintendo 64. While those consoles have come and gone, there’s a surprisingly wide range of Star Wars games on the Nintendo Switch, and in the spirit of May the 4th, I thought I would make a list of the 10 best Star Wars games on the system. Close the blast doors, be mindful of the present, and may the force be with you as we take a look at the best Star Wars Games on Nintendo Switch
Fortnite Star Wars Collaboration
Let’s kick it off with the most recent Star Wars collaboration that just dropped in Fortnite. No, don’t click away! Trust me on this! The new collaboration may have a mainly cosmetic impact on Battle Royale, Rocket Racing, and Festival, there are huge changes to Lego Fortnite, adding Star Wars outposts where you can complete tasks and unlock new villagers and items on your adventure. Also, for the next 80 days, there’s a specific Star Wars Lego pass that allows you to unlock some classic Star Wars architecture to create your own wretched hive of scum and villainy. Epic has announced this content will stay beyond the battle pass, so you don’t have to worry about losing your progress!
Aside from the Lego Changes, Fortnite Battle Royale is adding lightsabers and blasters, classic Star Wars skins, and accessories. The Festival is adding Star Wars-themed instruments and the iconic Cantina Band song. Rocket League is also adding Star Wars-themed cars based on iconic characters making Fortnite the place to be to celebrate May the 4th.
The Force Unleashed
An epic tale of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice fighting both good and evil to do his bidding. The Switch Version of The Force Unleashed ranks lower in my opinion than the other console versions as the Switch version is a port of the Wii edition of the game. It’s still a great time with over-the-top set pieces and impressive battles as you level up your abilities and powers, but it doesn’t have a lot of the details or features of its bigger brother. Those who don’t mind that will be in for a great story that fills in the gaps between Episodes 3 and 4 and unravels with a really cool surprise at the end that I won’t ruin here. You can also take part in Jedi duels outside of the main campaign and utilise the Switch’s motion controls for that added immersion.
Star Wars Pinball
A fairly robust selection of Pinball tables covering both Movies and TV Shows of the Star Wars Universe. Pinball aficionados will have plenty to do while exploring the likes of Solo, Boba Fett, and even The Mandalorian tables, shooting their way to victory. Star Wars Pinball runs on the incredible Zen Pinball engine offering both fluid gameplay and exceptional physics. Players can also pick the Light or Dark side and upload their scores online to tilt the balance of the force, adding a community element to the game. If you’re a fan of Pinball and Star Wars, then this is an essential purchase!
Republic Commando
Not the first foray into first-person shooters in the Star Wars universe, but an incredible one nonetheless. Republic Commando puts you in the boots of a Special Forces Clone trooper as you shoot your way through a campaign focused on the events of The Clone Wars and beyond. While it may not be that big of a deal these days, Republic Commando’s unique feature is that you can command your squad to assist in battle by ordering explosives, setting up your sniper, and even asking for a revive if you fall in battle. The first-person combat is often visceral, spraying debris on your visor should you be in the splash zone of an enemy, or getting yourself messy with up-close melee combat. Despite Republic Commando having a relatively short campaign, it’s a wild ride from start to finish.
Episode 1 Racer
Say what you will about the old, new Trilogy (I’m so confused right now) but there were some incredible moments throughout the story of Anikin’s transition into Darth Vader. One such scene was the Pod Racing in Episode 1, and Episode 1 Racer manages to capture the breakneck speed and excitement of pod racing in this fantastic game. Originally debuting on the N64 and PS1, the game may not be the best looking with a low poly count, but it still manages to impress with its tight gameplay. Racers will be able to unlock new pods, see the galaxy, and even upgrade their favourite pod racer to dominate the competition. What I really loved about the game was the faithful recreation of the course in the movie, as well as fleshing the entire Pod Racing league out to an impressive campaign that’s fast and fun. Racers can risk boosting engines and repair on the fly as the expense of speed should they overheat, causing some tense risk and reward moments. Highly recommend this one!
Battlefront Classic Collection
Probably the most popular Star Wars games and they absolutely dominated the Xbox and PlayStation 2 era. Recently, the Switch was graced with the Battlefront Classic Collection, a touched-up package consisting of both Battlefront games. While it has had some teething issues with the online modes, there’s a whole lot of game packed into this package allowing you to participate in large-scale infantry battles, utilize vehicles to turn the tides, as well as space battles to destroy the enemy fleet before they get to yours. To make it even better, there are several campaigns you can fight through that follow the story of episodes 1 through to 6. Aspyr is still patching and supporting this game so while online is patchy, if you don’t have an issue fighting against bots, you’re in for a great time!
Dark Forces Remaster
The first foray into First Person Shooters in the Star Wars universe and one of the best shooters around. Nightdive Studios did an incredible job not only remastering the game, but allowing players to switch between remaster and original, as well as preserving a lot of art files and behind the scenes extras. If that wasn’t enough, they even included the E3 concept demo making this package a textbook example of why game preservation is so important. Dark Forces follows Kyle Katarn, a mercenary who is on a mission to uncover and stop the imperial Dark Trooper program. It features excellent gunplay and puzzles, well-thought-out levels, and iconic Star Wars characters and locales. I absolutely adore this game and for those on the fence about it, it has a great price point and a whole lot of extras to give you extra bang for your buck.
Lego Star Wars – The Skywalker Saga
A hilariously fun co-op (or solo) take on the Star Wars universe, The Skywalker Saga incorporates the trilogy of trilogies with all new features and gameplay elements wrapped up in a smart package. The offbeat humour will make you laugh out loud as you smash your way through levels, collecting studs and unlocking characters. Fans of Star Wars with some loose change after visiting Toshley Station can purchase several DLC packs to add even more to the game playing as characters from the Bad Batch and the Mandalorian to name a few. There’s a lot of puzzles but nothing too taxing, and the more relaxed playstyle makes it a great game to play with the young ones. I did notice some minor performance issues in co-op play, but it’s still a fantastic romp and an essential purchase for Star Wars fans!
Jedi Outcast & Academy
Okay, okay, I know it’s cheating to put two games together… but they are two peas in the pod racer. Kyle Katarn is back and despite the Switch missing “Dark Forces 2” which sees Kyle start to walk down the path of the Jedi, both Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy bring some amazing Star Wars action to the Switch. Jedi Outcast has a solid mix of shooter and lightsaber action while Jedi Academy puts you in the boots of Kyle’s apprentice, learning the ways of the force and ultimately deciding where your allegiances lie. The whole Kyle Katarn Saga could easily make up an entirely new and engaging TV series or movie in itself, and that story plays out really well in these 2 games. Both games regularly go on sale and have received critical acclaim. I can’t recommend these games enough!
Knights of the Old Republic 1 & 2
Coming in at number 1 is the Knights of the Old Republic double bundle. Bioware’s early RPGs were magical and allowed players to choose a class and embark on an epic adventure across 2 games. While the Knights of the Old Republic double bundle on Switch may have caused some controversy with the canceled DLC being pulled well after the release of the game, causing Aspry to hand out free games as compensation, there’s no denying that both of the games are a masterclass in storytelling and world-building. While KoToR 2 may seem tempting for new players to jump straight into, I highly recommend starting with the first game to really get the best bang for your buck out of the series. Star Wars fans need to look no further than the Knights of the Old Republic double bundle for the ultimate Star Wars experience on Switch.
There you have it. How did my rankings go up against your personal preferences? Let me know in the comments below. Also, let me know what Star Wars games you would love to see come over to the Switch. My personal choice would be the Jedi Survivor series. I know the chances of it actually making it across are slim to none, but a wise man once said, “Never tell me the odds, kid.”
