In 2003, BioWare released Knights of the Old Republic, a role-playing game that ran on the Dungeons and Dragons-esque Star Wars Roleplaying Game rules. Like many of BioWare’s other popular RPGs, KOTOR includes a gripping story, dynamic characters, and of course, romance options. The game was a resounding success, spawning a sequel, novels, an MMORPG, and a troubled-but-highly-anticipated remake. But more importantly, Knights of the Old Republic introduced Revan to the world.
The shadow of the mysterious, absent Sith Lord hung over the game, and their legacy shaped the Knights of the Old Republic setting. As the story progressed, players learned more about Revan, until they finally learned the truth of their identity in one of the most memorable scenes in gaming history. Though some of the best Star Wars characters came with later entries in the franchise, none have been able to compare to Revan - but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The Legacy of Knights of the Old Republic’s Sith Lord Revan
For nearly twenty years, Knights of the Old Republic's Revan has blown minds with one of the biggest plot twists in gaming - that this Sith Lord was actually the playable character. The reveal was cinematically perfect, as Revan’s mysterious defeat raised just enough questions to get players curious, and the character’s gaps in their memory allowed impeccable foreshadowing to be sprinkled throughout Knights of the Old Republic.
As such, Revan’s shadow now looms over every other Star Wars game. Though it was a huge success, Knights of the Old Republic 2 wasn’t quite as good as its predecessor. Star Wars game series like Jedi Outcast andJedi: Fallen Order received critical acclaim, but none could top Knights of the Old Republic’s legendary status. With such a perfect storytelling experience in Revan, other games in the franchise shouldn’t try to change that.
So far, any attempt Star Wars has made to recapture the essence of Darth Revan has failed. Revan's story in The Old Republic is featured in the Shadow of Revan and Onslaught expansions - though the former was widely considered to be one of the weaker stories in the MMORPG’s history. He almost appeared in The Clone Wars animated series, but apprehension and lore discrepancies lead to the scene being cut. Revan has become such a legendary name that Star Wars doesn't use it often, but that shouldn’t prevent other Star Wars games from becoming legends of their own.
The Future of Revan in Star Wars
Interestingly enough, Revan fans can thank the controversial Rise of Skywalker movie for bringing the legendary Sith Lord’s name back to canon. Each of the Sith Eternal legions fielded by Palpatine near the end of the film is named after an ancient Sith Lord, one of which being Darth Revan. Additionally, in the Shadow of the Sith companion novel, several Sith Eternal cultists chant the names of Revan and other Sith Lords.
Unfortunately, the cultists are not forthcoming on what Revan actually did in canon lore. Though the name-drop could signal a return of the character, possibly in a Knights of the Old Republic remake, it actually only confirms that Star Wars remembers the name as well. Rise of Skywalker might have invoked Revan’s name as an easter egg, but even it was afraid to actually show what their story looks like in Star Wars canon.
It is possible Revan could show up in some media in the future. If rumors are to be believed, Star Wars: The Acolyte's inspirations could be drawn from the extended universe, making a good case for Revan's return. That said, unless Revan’s theoretical return is executed perfectly, fans won't be happy. Nevertheless, players can look forward to plenty of Star Wars content this year, and they may even discover a new legend comparable to Revan - or at least some good news about the Knights of the Old Republic remake.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is available for Mobile, PC, Switch, and Xbox.
