Since its initial big screen debut in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has branched out from film to almost every medium available. From television shows, both animated and live action, to in-universe audiobooks and comics to an ever-growing catalog of merchandise and even a dedicated section of Disney parks, that galaxy far, far away is larger than ever and expanding at an exponential rate.
A fan favorite corner of the expanded universe is in gaming extensions, including board games, tabletop games, and—a long-running staple of our favorite space opera—video games, ranging from the arcade and pinball days of old to state-of-the-art games for console and PC that allow players to interact with worlds they'd only seen on the big screen. A new slate of games is well on its way, including the hotly anticipated Knights of the Old Republic remake, and projects from Ubisoft, Skydance New Media, and Zynga. But for now, we're busy celebrating the arrival of Jedi: Survivor, the second game following Jedi Cal Kestis and the Mantis crew in the early days of the Empire's reign.
Early reviews are in, and they're glowing. So while we try our best to maintain composure, the echo of "Patience you must have, my young Padawan" ringing in our ears, we've collected a round-up of Star Wars video game tie-in listens for fans looking for an even deeper dive.
Five years ago, Star Wars fans were introduced to Cal Kestis, a former Padawan and survivor of Order 66 who is hunted down by Inquisitors after he embarks on a mission to finish his training and restore the Jedi Order. Kestis is the playable protagonist of 2019’s Jedi: Fallen Order, an exceptional work of Star Wars storytelling that allowed players to explore worlds both new (Bogano, Bracca) and familiar (Kashyyyk, Dathomir), while living out their dreams of swinging a lightsaber and wielding the Force. On April 28, the game’s sequel, Jedi: Survivor, will arrive, picking up five years after the conclusion of the first installment as Cal, his shoulder-dwelling droid pal BD-1, and compatriots Cere, Greez, and Merrin continue their stand against the Empire. This prequel novel fills in the gaps between the two games, detailing the Mantis crew’s encounter with an Imperial defector and a brush with the Fifth Brother.
Based on the 2015 Star Wars Battlefront video game, this action-packed war fantasy is marked by elements of both gritty reality and mesmerizing otherworldliness. It follows a group of Rebellion fighters as they doggedly work towards victory in the trenches of the Galactic Civil War, focusing on ordinary soldiers performing extraordinary heroics. In addition to Jonathan Davis’s stellar performance, impeccable sound design and mixing brings each battle sequence to tense new heights.
In this prequel to the 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront II, an elite Imperial unit of four expert soldiers attempts to infiltrate and destroy an extremist subset of the Rebellion known as the Dreamers, formerly led by the fierce but fallen Saw Gerrera. Set after the Battle of Yavin and the destruction of the first Death Star, this listen sheds a new, human light on the soldiers that comprise the Empire, lending much-needed depth to a group of characters too often written off as one-dimensional villains. If you’re interested in a Star Wars story with a taut, espionage-driven edge, this is it.
Ask many old school Star Wars fans about their favorite EU character, and they just might mention Revan, the playable protagonist of the first Knights of the Old Republic game that’s explored further in this listen. A complex and complicated character, Revan’s shattered mind and torn allegiances took him from hero to traitor to savior, from the Jedi Order to the dark side and back again. With his memories wiped, Revan struggles to piece together a threat he once perceived—before it’s too late.
A companion to the now non-canonical LucasArts video game of the same name, this listen opens on the rise of the Empire, as Emperor Palpatine takes the throne and Vader crosses the galaxy quashing insurrectionists. But Vader is not alone—the Sith Lord has trained an apprentice to aid him in his wicked enforcement, a young man gifted in ways of the Force. But does Starkiller's destiny align with Vader's wishes?
Following the events of the first game (and its novelization), The Force Unleashed II finds Juno Eclipse, the ace Imperial pilot and love interest of the first installment, rattled at the return of Starkiller, whom she thought to be dead. But he is not the man she knew—his memories have been wiped, and he has been indoctrinated to wreak destruction and death. As Juno and Starkiller’s reunion looms, Vader senses that his assassin’s loyalty will be tested anew.
