In most cases, you playStar Warsgames because you want to vwoom and pew your way through the galaxy. It’s a noble pursuit. But you probably wouldn’t keep coming back if it wasn’t for the engaging stories and characters that populate a galaxy far, far away.
All of that largely comes down to the writing, and manygreat Star Wars gamescan really boast in that regard. From dramatic tales to witty banter, there are plenty of titles out there for those looking to really dig into the literary side of things. But which Star Wars games have the best writing of all?
MMORPGs tend to be story-heavy, so any good contender for your time really needs to bring it in the writing department. Star Wars: The Old Republic does this and then some, offering a true BioWare experience complete with all the great dialog and gripping stories you’d hope for, all in a genuinely enjoyable online experience.
Like any classic BioWare game, it’s all about choice, whether it’s your character’s story, light side vs dark side (even if you’re playing as a Sith), or romance. With shockingly good storylines for many of its character classes, The Old Republic is a great gameeven for folks who don’t like MMOs.
Following former Imperial and relatively new Force user Kyle Katarn, Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast sees him and his mercenary partner Jan Ors investigating a new threat. As you uncover a dark new threat, you get to enjoy a romp through the galaxy with some truly enjoyable characters. The game has some great banter and interactions, making it a delight to exist in its take on the Star Wars universe.
Combined with the incredibly fluid and enjoyable lightsaber combat, Jedi Outcast’s writing really goes a long way in creating a great all-around experience. It’s so good that you’ll quickly forget about your initial confusion about somebody in the Star Wars universe named Kyle.
A gameabout a young Jediin hiding during the early days of the Empire was already bound to be a heavy one, so it would need a solid writing team behind it to make the most of that potential. Casting the kid who bites people in Malcolm in the Middle as its lead was also an inspired choice.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order goes a long way in making its emotional beats really land. Cal’s past trauma of losing his master, Merrin’s anguish and rage as she tries to avenge her fellow fallen Nightsisters, Cere’s fallen apprentice-turned-Inquisitor, it all hits hard, and the writing doesn’t pull any punches with its themes of loss and found family.
With a more experienced and confident Cal leading the story, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor almost seems to start out kind of optimistic. But the emotional gut punches start early in this sequel, and they just keep coming. In case it wasn’t obvious, those themes of loss from the first game are back with reinforcements.
It balances the heartwarming and calm moments with the despair admirably. A betrayal or tragic death here is offset by a fun conversation at the cantina orBD-1 doing something adorable. But you’ll come out the other side feeling like you just experienced something profound, or at the very least, you’ll enjoy listening to Skoova Stev’s fish stories.
True, like Jedi Outcast, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 is no longer part of Star Wars canon. But its story and writing are still worth experiencing, with family revelations and an exciting Force-centric tale at the center. Kyle’s story as a former Imperial stormtrooper-turned-merc is as gripping as ever, and the writing makes that happen.
Before Kyle and Jan were the quippy mercenaries players loved in Jedi Outcast, they were quippy mercenaries with considerably more dated graphics in Dark Forces 2. But don’t let the polygons and nostalgically crispy full-motion video fool you. This one really goes places.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) follows Imperial agent Iden Versio as she, spoilers, finally realizes the Empire are the bad guys when their bad guy ways suddenly affect her personally. Who says Star Wars isn’t realistic? The writing, particularly the banter from characters like the Duros Shriv, is way better than anyone probably would have expected.
It gets pretty serious and dramatic for a series whose most beloved movie entry includesa wrinkly green puppetvoiced by Fozzie Bear. But Battlefront 2 also balances some good humor with the intensity. It’s a great story of redemption and it hits all the right highs to be a truly satisfying experience.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic excels in its storytelling, world building, and characters all thanks to some truly engaging writing from BioWare. This epic RPG immerses you in a time long gone in the Star Wars universe, basically giving you a well-realized and functionally new yet familiar galaxy to explore.
This game is all about decisions, and BioWare’s excellent wordsmithing makes the whole thing all the more impactful. Sure, the choices don’t often go beyond “give this beggar some credits or shoot him in the leg” in terms of morality, but the actual character moments and the game’s legendary twist still hold up today.
1Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2
Have Some Nuance With Your Lasers
If Knights of the Old Republic proved the writing in Star Wars games can be genuinely good, then its sequel proved it can be truly great. The first game was sort of a classic hero’s tale with a cartoonishly evil villain bolstered by a world-shaking twist. But things got even deeper the next time around.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords seemed on its surface like more of the same after the first game. But its story and writingfrom Avowed developer Obsidianshows off some seriously nuanced takes on morality, the Force, and the wisdom of trusting mysterious old crones.
