Following the news earlier this week that Lucasfilm Games will be looking to work with developers across the industry to create new and exciting Star Wars games, it got me thinking: just how many Star Wars games will we see? And what will they look like?
My imagination started flowing and I was quickly left with a list of 10 Star Wars games I (and I imagine many other Star Wars fans) would love to see, and the developers that would be perfect to make them a reality. You’re welcome developers and Lucasfilm Games, you can drop me an email for the PayPal details!
I should probably point out now, some of these are far, far more realistic than others. But hey, it’s fun to dream, right?
Star Wars Racer
Dream Developer: Bandai Namco
Let’s start off with a successor to the unquestionable (it’s highly questionable to be honest) Star Wars spin-off GOAT. Star Wars Episode I: Racer not only had a rather strange title by today’s standards, but it also allowed us to channel our inner young Anakin and scream “Now this is podracing!” at the TV.
Given Racer actually went down as a pretty terrific title back in the day, I think there’s certainly room for a sequel somewhere. I’m not just talking about a remake (though, I’d also take that), but a completely new experience. A fresh selection of podracers, drivers, tracks from across the galaxy to speed around, and a more fleshed-out vehicle upgrade system and I’d be all in.
Our pick for the developer? Why, Bandai Namco of course! Having released some excellent arcade racing action with the Ridge Racer series, I imagine the developers expertise in loose handling, and adrenaline-pumping racing could do a podracing game justice.
In an ideal world, I’d have roped in Sony Liverpool (formerly known as Psygnosis Limited) — of WipeOut fame — to do it, considering that was more or less podracing before Star Wars made it cool…ish!
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds 2
Dream Developer: Creative Assembly
During the early noughties, RTS games were a dime a dozen on the PC. Alas, over the course of two decades, the numbers have dwindled as console gaming became an overwhelmingly popular platform, and RTS titles never felt quite right on a gamepad compared to mouse and keyboard.
But back in 2001, former developer Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires & Halo Wars) released Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds. It took the developer’s prowess with RTS titles and Age of Empires DNA, and blended it with a Star Wars flavoring. The result was a wholly enjoyable game comprised of five separate faction campaigns and a skirmish mode against both an AI opponent and online multiplayer.
Sadly, following the Clone Campaigns expansion pack that released a year later, the Star Wars RTS potential was never tapped into again. Until now. With 11 (soon to be 12) movies’ worth of content, various TV shows and a ton of written lore to delve into, there’s ample opportunity to bring the series back to its former glory.
And what better developer to craft a fantastic RTS experience than Creative Assembly. The UK developer is one of the true strategy game giants of the industry right now, delivering smash-hit after smash-hit of turn-based strategy titles in the Total War series.
Whether it opted to go the turn-based strategy route, as we engaged in various skirmishes against the Empire to reclaim or maintain control of a planet (or even a Galaxy), or saw us frantically crafting different units and structures while simultaneously scouting out our opponents in true RTS fashion, I’m sure they could deliver an experience befitting of the Star Wars license.
Plus, the developer’s got experience in bringing RTS titles to console, following Halo Wars 2 in 2017.
Star Wars Battlefront III
Dream Developer: DICE
Let’s address the gigantic microtransaction in the room: Star Wars Battlefront II wasn’t in the best state when it released back in 2017. It was either grind for hundreds of hours, or cough up more real-life cash in microtransactions.
Despite these initial shortcomings, the actual gameplay was solid. It had a passable campaign and enough multiplayer content — with more released as free DLC over the following year — to keep fans coming back every day for more authentic Star Wars shooty action.
Given EA appears to have learned from its microtransaction mistakes with the Star Wars franchise now, I can’t imagine anyone better to develop Battlefront III than DICE once again.
The content is somewhat self-explanatory, more of the multiplayer mayhem fans have come to love. Though I’d like a slightly more exciting campaign, with explosive set-pieces and a more fleshed-out story. Make it happen DICE!
Star Wars Jedi Starfighter 2/ Squadrons 2 / Rogue Squadron 3
Dream Developer: EA Motive
Last year’s Star Wars: Squadrons is the most fun flying around in a game I’ve had in a long time, and the fact that all that aerial…space… dogfighting action was wrapped up in a Star Wars skin made it all the more appealing. Alas, due to it being developed as a $40 ‘budget’ title from the offset, the actual offering of content was a little underwhelming, and was my major drawback when I reviewed it back in October.
It should come as no surprise, then, that I’d love to see EA Motive have a stab at another Squadrons, Jedi Starfighter, or Rogue Squadron game, but this time with a heftier budget to back the developer’s lofty ambitions and incredible talent.
Motive has already shown it knows its way around a starfighter engine, with each of Squadron’s ships feeling distinctly unique in handling, its specialist areas in combat, and easy to pick up but difficult to master mechanics.
Another single-player campaign that helps you get to grips with some new flight and combat mechanics, while offering stunning sights of the galaxy and varied mission objectives? Yes please. Pair that up with a bolstered offering of maps and game modes in the multiplayer and I — and every other wannabe starfighter pilot — will be all set to hop into the cockpit once more.
Star Wars Force Unleashed 3 (VR)
Dream Developer: Valve
The Force Unleashed games of the early 2010s were thrilling action titles that let us harness the powers of a Sith apprentice as they essentially wreaked havoc across the galaxy far, far away. I never thought force choking an enemy and wielding a red lightsaber would feel so good. But damn it felt good to be bad.
So imagine how much more satisfying it would be to truly step into the shoes of a young Sith (or Jedi) apprentice once more, but in VR.
With Valve as my dream developer, I think the experience would be in incredibly safe hands. If you’ve had the pleasure of playing Half-Life: Alyx, Valve has already cemented itself as one of the best VR game developers out there, with realistic physics, stunning environments, and a firm grasp of what makes VR so satisfying and immersive. I have no doubt they could turn us to the dark side all over again.
The Mandalorian Game
Dream Developer: Rockstar Games/ Arkane Studios
If there were an obvious Star Wars spin-off IP already screeching for a video game adaptation in the collective games industry’s face right now, it would be The Mandalorian. The TV series not only gave us the adorable Grogu (Baby Yoda, Baba Y, Baby Yodes – Destroyer of Eggs), it dragged us for a ride across the galaxy far, far away as Mando embarked on what can only, really, be described as a series of side quests leading him closer to completing his main objective.
It’s this which makes it the perfect source material for a video game. While we’re yet to see what’s next for Din Djarin (Mando’s real name) followings the events of Season 2’s finale, we do know that a video game (episodic, or a full release) that planet hops and sees Mando taking on a vast array of different missions sounds like a recipe for success.
Imagine one second helping escort (the now iconic) Frog Lady and her eggs to the estuary moon of Trask, and the next bargaining with Jawas for our wrecked ship’s scavenged parts. Or how about teaming up with Cara Dune to put an end to some bandits on the planet she’s recently come to Marshal, before visiting the Armorer for some weapon upgrades? That’s just going off a handful of plot points from the TV show, but as a bounty hunter, the galaxy is quite literally a Mandalorian game’s oyster.
For a game so ambitious, you need a developer with a history of fantastic world design, narrative skills, and gritty gameplay to top it all off. Rockstar Games comes top of the list for us, having showcased its action-adventure prowess with the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead series, and the impeccably detailed worlds the team’s managed to craft in each of those.
Otherwise, we’d love to see what Arkane (Prey, Dishonored, Deathloop) could do with a Mandalorian game. Those three titles alone showcase the developer’s ability to deliver a variety of first-person experiences, and Deathloop in particular, looks set to be an excellent bounty hunter/ assassination-based title.
Life Is Star Wars… I Need to Work on My Title Ideas
Dream Developer: DONTNOD
Before I get into the real meat of this entry, can we all appreciate my spectacular image editing/ Photoshop skills? Done? Take a few seconds more. Okay, now let’s move swiftly on.
The Star Wars universe is quite literally teeming with interesting stories outside of those told around the most iconic cast of characters. But even beyond those already established in the universe, there’s ample potential to introduce fans to completely new characters, as seen with Cal Kestis, the protagonist of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Given the rise in popularity of graphic adventure games such as Life Is Strange, and developer Telltale’s licensed offerings before its shuttering, what better way to introduce us to a new character, and allow us to truly immerse ourselves in the Star Wars universe than a narrative-driven adventure from DONTNOD themselves?
The answer? Absolutely nothing. Imagine being able to use your force powers to solve environmental puzzles, or your Jedi mind powers to give you an insight into the consequences of your conversational choices or actions. It sounds awesome, and I’d love to see DONTNOD given the opportunity to flex its narrative muscles on a major licensed property like Star Wars.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3
Dream Developer: BioWare
It’s been over a decade since the release of Knights of the Old Republic 2 — largely in part due to its MMO successor from 2011 still going strong in 2021. But that doesn’t mean we at Twinfinite don’t still long for a deep RPG within the Star Wars world, particularly one focusing on the moral choices that come with wielding Force powers.
The narrative details I’ll leave to those far more talented in storytelling at BioWare to figure out, but this list would be meaningless if KOTOR 3 wasn’t mentioned. Give us an expansive RPG with ample customization options, cutting-edge visuals to bring the galaxy to life, a plethora of Force skills, and excellent dialog and narrative writing and you’ve got another excellent recipe for success.
Given BioWare birthed the series originally, before Obsidian took the reigns for the second title, I’d love to see them return once more and see what they could do with the IP. That being said, it has a handful of projects already on its plate, including the Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dragon Age 4.
Obsidian would be my close-second choice, given its RPG prowess showcased by Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, and of course, KOTOR 2. The familiarity with the IP that both studios have should be assurance enough the project would be in safe hands.
Star Wars Open-World Looter Shooter
Dream Developer: Ubisoft Massive
There’s not a whole lot I need to mention on this one, either. Looter shooters are one of the big genres right now, with the likes of Borderlands 3, Destiny 2, The Division 2 and Warframe seeing massive success.
Given Lucasfilm Games and Ubisoft Massive have already announced they’re working on a story-driven open-world experience within the Star Wars galaxy together, which will also take advantage of the Snowdrop engine (utilized by The Division 2), I’d hedge my bets that we’re going to get a looter shooter in the Star Wars universe.
And you know what, that sounds great to me. The Division 2 was a fantastic title at launch with tight gunplay, ample customization to suit your playstyle, compelling PVP elements, and one of the more interesting narratives and worlds I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying in a looter shooter. Plus, the whole experience only continued to get better with the release of its DLC expansions that followed.
If Ubisoft Massive shows that same level of detail and commitment to its upcoming Star Wars title — and if it does prove to be a looter shooter — sign me up!
Star Wars Galactic Empire (Management Sim)
Dream Developer: Colossal Order
Rounding out our list is a bit of a wild shout. Ever watched one of the various planets in Star Wars media succumb to the might of the Empire and think, “if I were in charge, I’d never have let that happen?”
Well how about a management sim that allows you to do just that. Imagine Cities: Skylines with a Star Wars skin over the entire thing. Manage your planet’s economy, infrastructure, and prepare defenses to help keep those pesky Stormtroopers (or maybe even Rebel Alliance forces) at bay.
Given Colossal Order’s last title was Cities: Skylines in 2015, and the fact it’s arguably still the city building/ management sim to beat, the developer seems like a perfect fit for my rather outlandish idea for a Star Wars spin-off. Don’t lie, I know you’d all want to play it, too.
Any ideas you’d like to see become Star Wars games? And which developer would you have turning it into a reality? Let us know down in the comments below.
Published: Jan 14, 2021 03:04 pm