Fans of Star Wars are well aware of the split between what's known as "Legends" continuity and the current canon. "Legends" refers to the extended lore of books, T.V and video games from before the Disney acquisition of Star Wars. While it wasn't initially known as Legends, the vast body of work was officially rebranded as such in 2014 and subsequently declared non-canon (though some elements have been appropriated for the current continuity).
Though they are no longer canon, these books, comics, T.V shows, and games still have plenty of fans after all these years. This is especially true for the Star Wars Legends games, many of which are still being played to this day by fans. In fact, it's these games that serve as individual mementos for not only Star Wars as a brand, but gaming as a medium as they were in years past.
8 Star Wars: Republic Commando
A fan favorite, Republic Commando continues to influence Star Wars canon even after its own de-canonization. Taking control of the clone commando known as RC1138 or "Boss," the player takes command of Delta squad, a group of elite clone troopers during the Clone Wars set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. While the main story of the game is non-canon, the character of Boss and his Delta squad still exist in the current continuity.
Republic commando is praised for its use of squad-type gameplay. Each trooper has a specific role and character, and they can be ordered around by the player freely. They can take cover, suppress, advance, and perform role-specific duties like demolitions or hacking, among others. In Republic Commando, the squad gameplay is its standout feature, both for its gameplay mechanics and the unique perspective it offers.
7 Star Wars: Battlefront 2
Battlefront 2 was released in 2005 and was one of the most played multiplayer first-person/third-person shooters of the era. To this day, it is still held in high regard for its various film-accurate maps, class-based gameplay, and modes such as Galactic Conquest, Instant Action, and campaign. Speaking of the campaign, it attempts to translate major story beats from the films (and in between them) but from the perspective of one nameless clone/stormtrooper from the 501st Legion who narrates the mission cutscenes.
This story about the 501st Legion is entirely non-canon, with events in it being directly contradicted in current continuity (Bad Batch is one such example). That said, the 501st does have its fans, and they are a canonical group of soldiers and can be seen in the Clone Wars cartoon.
6 Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
At the time of this game's release, Jango Fett was a brand-new character just waiting to be expanded upon. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter does just that by giving the player control of him in a game that is, as expected, all about his work as a bounty hunter just before the events of Attack of the Clones. Along the way, the player is given insight into Jango as a character, his relationships with other characters, and how he ended up meeting Count Dooku and subsequently becoming the basis for the clone army. Whether this story is still canon is doubtful, however.
The player is given the opportunity to utilize most if not all of Jango's weapons and gadgets as they progress through the game. This includes his twin blaster pistols, Jet pack, flamethrower, missiles, and much more. While the game is heavily combat-focused, there are quite a few platforming segments as well. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, however, is known for being rather difficult and suffers from dated controls, level design, and camera movement. As a game from 2002, this is to be expected. That said, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is still remembered rather fondly by many fans of the franchise.
5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The 'Old Republic' corner of the Legends universe has been widely regarded as some of the best Star Wars content around. As an early 2000s RPG, Knights of the Old Republic or "KOTOR" is all about player choices and the effect that has on the narrative. The player can be good, evil, or somewhere in between as they journey across the galaxy searching for the Star Forge.
This is a story that is not confirmed to still be canon as of right now, but there is speculation that Disney may be planning to make it so. In any event, the game was well-received and popular enough that a remake was announced in 2021, which was met with widespread excitement by fans.
4 Star Wars: Jedi Outcast
While Kyle Katarn's story is now thoroughly non-canon, he is still fondly remembered by Star Wars fans. Jedi Outcast is the fourth game in what is essentially the Kyle Katarn saga, the player once again taking control of the hero that originally stole the Death Star plans, this time on a mission to avenge a fallen comrade. The player even meets and fights alongside a few notable characters such as Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker while on this journey.
Jedi Outcast is notable for its impressive levels and energetic combat, which features Blasters, Lightsabers, and Force powers for the player to use. The latter two elements are often praised as being some of the best one could find in a Star Wars game period.
3 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
Like its predecessor, KOTOR 2 is all about player choice. This time, however, it is a far more complex affair. With some of the best character writing in all of Star Wars, KOTOR 2 sets itself apart from even the first game by delivering set pieces and choices that have far-reaching ramifications on the player's experience. The tone is also generally considered to be darker and more mature than the first game, with much more time devoted to philosophical themes and ideas (both of which are expressed through the characters).
Gameplay-wise, KOTOR 2 is very similar to KOTOR 1, with the real difference being in how buggy it unfortunately is due to the short development cycle. This is a game best experienced with some of the fan mods that squash bugs and re-add some of the content that was unfortunately cut.
2 Star Wars: Dark Forces
Dark Forces is a Doom-era FPS that, like Doom, has somehow retained its charm even after all these years of advancements in technology and design philosophy. The game features the introduction of the fan-favorite character, Kyle Katarn, and even sees him steal the Death Star Plans in the opening level.
Though it resembles Doom and its various clones, Dark Forces is far more story-driven and even has a slightly more advanced engine that allows for things like more vertical level design and three-dimensional assets in some cases. The weapons are all distinctly Star Wars in feel and each level is unique in aesthetic, objective, and narrative. This makes it rather forward-thinking for its time even if it seems a bit antiquated by today's standards.
1 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Up to this point in Star Wars, no other game put such a visceral emphasis on the force and its power. Force Unleashed does just this by giving the player control of Starkiller, Darth Vader's secret apprentice in between Episodes 3 and 4. Starkiller is an uncommonly powerful force user who, as the game progresses, transforms from an aspiring Sith Lord to a hero of the Rebellion. Sadly, this interesting story is no longer canon, though the door remains open for it to be reintegrated someday.
Force Unleashed features the force like no other Star Wars game. Aside from the basic force attacks like pushing or Lightning (which are impressive alone), players can telekinetically move objects from the environment at will and use them as improvised attacks against enemies, which themselves can also be gripped via the force and manipulated freely. The force is also incorporated into movement, allowing for dashes, double jumps, and so on. For anyone wanting to see the force pushed to its limits as a central gameplay mechanic, look no further than The Force Unleashed.