A global phenomenon for more than 40 years, Star Wars has successfully conquered the mediums of film, television, and gaming. It's been churning out games for almost as long as it has films, with players getting everything from strict film adaptations to brand-new adventures and settings never before seen in live-action.
With the universally praised Fallen Order getting its long-awaited sequel in Survivor earlier this year, it's safe to say business is still booming on the Star Wars gaming front. Despite the general success, there are plenty of games out there that failed to get a follow-up, leaving fans waiting seemingly forever for a new development that simply never came. With the ninth generation of consoles in full swing and Disney turning out a dizzying amount of Star Wars content every year, it's high time some classic games from yesteryear saw their stories get continued for new legions of Force fans.
6 Revenge Of The Sith Could Give Players A Dark Alternate Timeline To Explore
At a glance, a direct sequel to a movie tie-in might seem like an odd fit. However, for players who witnessed the alternate ending for Anakin Skywalker, it's clear there's a potentially thrilling what-if timeline for a belated follow-up.
Rather than losing his limbs and catching fire like in the film, the game offered a different ending for those who played Anakin during the campaign. Successfully making the jump and killing Obi-Wan Kenobi, the villainous Skywalker then kills Emperor Palpatine as well, establishing his new seat at the top of the galaxy. A game set 20 years later in a grim galaxy ruled by an immensely powerful Chosen One would make for a fascinating timeline. With Luke and Leia potentially under Anakin's dark side influence, players could potentially enjoy plotlines involving other heroes such as Ahsoka Tano and Yoda. Alternatively, Luke Skywalker still saving the day would likely please most fans.
5 Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Gave Fans A Grittier, Violent Look At The Galaxy
This intense, action-packed tie-in to Attack of the Clones follows Jango Fett in his earlier years as the galaxy's toughest bounty hunter. As an anti-heroic shooter, Bounty Hunter was a break from the more Jedi-focused norm of many Star Wars games in the year prior.
The plot picks up a decade before the events of Episode II, with Fett getting caught up in numerous fearsome situations involving Palpatine, Count Dooku, a Dark Jedi named Komari Vosa, Jabba the Hutt, and more. Ruthlessly killing his way through numerous suspenseful moments and interactions, Fett's ice-cold approach to dealing with threats was a breath of fresh air to players more used to lighter, nobler protagonists in Star Wars at the time. While Fett's death in Attack of the Clones likely disqualifies an easy, direct follow-up, a sequel focusing on Boba Fett, or one of the other many bounty hunters brought to video game life, could be a treat. Considering what the show made of Boba Fett, the setting would ideally be before The Empire Strikes Back to ensure some originality and a new time period for fans to discover.
4 The Force Unleashed 2 Found A Neat Way To Continue The Starkiller Story
Prior to Disney buying Lucasfilm for a whopping $ 4 billion in 2012, a third installment in the over-the-top adventures of Starkiller was actually on the cards. According to the developers, the narrative would've seen Starkiller and Darth Vader be forced to team up when a new threat arrives.
For fans of the first two games, the dynamic between Starkiller and the iconic Sith Lord was one of the main sources of appeal, along with its impressive setpieces. A third game seeing them stuck putting their immense powers together to tackle a bigger issue likely would've been a hit. While Starkiller's absurd power levels made some more traditionalist Star Wars fans roll their eyes, the original game's all-action spectacle and redemption arc made it a blockbuster success.
With great character development, and even a surprising romance angle, Starkiller was a well-fleshed-out protagonist. The sequel, which follows a clone of the original hero, continued the popularity and acclaim for the most part but ultimately failed to match its predecessor's success. In the years since, however, the series has enjoyed a strong cult following. With the wild popularity of Jedi: Survivor this year, it's safe to say gamers are looking for Force-using thrills. With that in mind, now could be the time for Starkiller to make a comeback.
3 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Moved The Popular Series In An Interesting New Direction
The beloved Jedi Knight series hasn't seen the light of day in regard to new developments in 20 years. Jedi Academy marks the last time players got to see fan-favorite Jedi hero Kyle Katarn in action, and he wasn't even a playable character.
The Jedi Knight games took place during and after the events of the original trilogy and focused initially on Katarn's grueling hero's journey from imperial stormtrooper to ruthless mercenary to Jedi warrior. In Jedi Academy, players took control of a new Padawan mastering Force powers. They also got to witness a wiser Katarn in a mentor role.
Despite the general acclaim surrounding the series' last installment, a sequel never came to fruition. Considering the immense popularity of the Cal Kestis character in recent years, it's safe to say Star Wars fans and gamers are still on the lookout for great Jedi heroes to play as. With that in mind, now could be the perfect time for a continuation of the Jedi Knight series for a new generation of gaming.
2 Star Wars Galaxies Was A Game-Changing Epic
The universally acclaimed MMORPG changed Star Wars gaming as fans knew it when it first dropped back in 2003. Not only did it change Star Wars, the expansive space odyssey ultimately changed the nature of MMORPGs as well, providing a more immersive, consequences-laden gaming experience than anything that had come before.
Everything from the dread of permanent injuries to taking upside hustle jobs for extra income was on offer in Galaxies, making it an astoundingly lifelike trip through one of cinema's most fantastical settings. The ever-expanding galaxy of colorful characters and situations ensured players frequently found new Star Wars plot lines to investigate, making the game its own living, breathing world of sorts within the medium.
Expansion packs only continued the game's acclaim and growing fanbase, at least until The Trial Of Obi-Wan arrived. Completely rebooting and simplifying much of the game's designs, depth, and overall player experience, the expansion ultimately tanked the game's general interest. All these years later, however, have proven that Galaxies was in a world of its own at its best, and deserving of a follow-up, or even a full reboot.
1 Knights Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords Marked A Premature End To The KOTR Series
Few Star Wars games managed to set the world on fire quite like Knights of the Old Republic. An action-packed space western, the universally acclaimed game takes players to a time thousands of years before the events of the films.
The setting allows KOTR to show fans a very different era in the Star Wars universe, immediately setting it apart from anything that had come before it. With a thrilling plot and colorful characters, it was only a matter of time before a sequel dropped. Focusing heavily on the Sith, KOTR 2 continued the original's success.
While a third game was on the cards at one point, it was ultimately canceled and replaced with an MMORPG set in the same time period. Considering KOTR's classic status within the gaming world, a new visit to the era on the ninth generation of consoles would likely be a smash hit. With its wild look at a completely different world compared to what the Star Wars films offer, even the more burnt-out and jaded fans out there would likely jump on a KOTR 3.