Highlights
- Star Wars ship combat games excel in capturing the spirit and fast-paced fun of the films and TV shows.
- X-Wing vs. Tie-Fighter from 1997 remains one of the best space combat games ever, with responsive controls and engaging multiplayer.
- Star Wars: Squadrons , developed by Motive Studios, offers an immersive VR experience as players alternate between the Empire and the New Republic.
Among the many methods of combat and conflict in the Star Wars universe, perhaps one of the most exciting is the ship-to-ship battles that have permeated all forms of media that the series engages with. When it comes to video games, getting the feeling of the ships right is paramount to creating a great Star Wars ship combat game. Thankfully, many a talented developer has tried their hand at this, and a few have created some truly wonderful experiences.
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Whether it's exploring the prequel movies and their focus on large-scale political conflicts surrounding clones and trade federations, or the Rebel Alliance vs the Imperial Empire, these games have no shortage of material to draw from. It's as much of a key part of Star Wars as lightsabers and blasters, and these games have captured the awe-inspiring spirit and fast-paced fun of outer spaceship combat that the films and TV shows have become known for.
5 Star Wars: X-Wing Vs. Tie-Fighter
A Multiplayer-Focused Space Combat Game Offers Combat Between Tie-Fighters And X-Wings
- Platform: PC
- Developer: Totally Games
- Release Date: April 29, 1997
While the 1990s saw Star Wars begin to embrace the third- and first-person perspectives, with games like Dark Forces and Shadows of the Empire leading the way, the X-Wing series was making its mark on the expanding flight combat scene. The genre was successful during the 1990s, and it was an absolute no-brainer to bring the iconic ships of Star Wars into this ravenously popular market.
With X-Wing vs. Tie-Fighter in 1997, the series reached a phenomenal peak, and created not just one of the best Star Wars space combat games ever, but one of the best in the entire genre full-stop. The ships feel responsive and are massively fun to control, and the game also features some outrageously engaging multiplayer modes.
4 Star Wars: Squadrons
This Impressive Flight Sim Is Amazing In VR
Star Wars Squadrons
Founded as an internal studio inside EA, Motive recently had great success with the Dead Space remake and is in the middle of production on an Iron Man game, but its first fully-developed project was Star Wars: Squadrons. This outstanding flight combat game takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi, and sees players alternate between playing as the Empire and the New Republic.
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Everything about Squadrons is an effort to capture the feeling and vibe of the films, as the presentation is intended to fully immerse players behind the cockpit of X-Wings and Tie-Fighters. It feels as though one of the best flight sim games got dipped in Star Wars paint and was sent out into the world, which is made even more thrilling through the use of VR. Squadrons in VR is an absolute treat, as this terrific flight combat game integrates seamlessly with a VR headset and allows players to experience being a Star Wars pilot through their own eyes.
3 Star Wars: Starfighter
This Classic Sixth-Generation Space Combat Game Ties Into The Prequel Films
- Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox, PC
- Developers: LucasArts, Secret Level
- Release Date: February 21, 2001
In the time between The Phantom Menace in 1999 and Attack of the Clones in 2002, LucasArts was plenty busy with games based on George Lucas' prequels. One of the best games to come out of this deluge of tie-ins was Star Wars: Starfighter, which landed on the PS2, Xbox and PC in 2001.
Taking place before and during the events of The Phantom Menace, Starfighter is an excellent space combat game that is still an absolute blast to play today. The ship movement feels remarkably smooth, and the on-screen action is fast and frantic. It's a stone-cold classic of the era, and is readily available on modern hardware.
2 Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
This Sequel Improves On The First Starfighter Game In Every Way
- Platforms: PS2, Xbox
- Developer: LucasArts
- Release Date: March 11, 2002
The first Starfighter game proved to be very successful, so it wasn't that much of a leap for LucasArts to work on a follow-up. They certainly took everything they learned from that game to heart, as the sequel launched roughly a year later and turned out even better than its predecessor.
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter is set before and during the Battle of Geonosis. This terrific sequel improves on the first title in every possible way, and features some incredible missions, as well as a slew of fun bonus excursions to tackle once players are through with the main campaign. Ship combat feels much tighter, and it is still one of the greatest movie tie-in games ever made.
1 Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
This GameCube Classic Is Still Star Wars' Greatest Space Combat Game
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube , Wii
- Released
- November 9, 2001
- Developer(s)
- Factor 5 , LucasArts
- Publisher(s)
- LucasArts , Activision
- Genre(s)
- Action , Shooter
Developer Factor 5 had cultivated a close relationship with Nintendo in the early-2000s, as the two shared technology and worked in tandem on some remarkable games. However, perhaps no game in their partnership was as impressive as Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader, which was a GameCube exclusive launch title in 2001. It was, and still is, a massive addition to Nintendo's catalogue, as this absolutely amazing simulation of Star Wars ship combat made the GameCube a must-have console right out of the gate.
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Built from a foundation of success on the N64 with Rogue Squadron, the sequel offered more vehicles, more missions, and a pitch-perfect sense of ship control. Featuring everything from a stunning recreation of the first Death Star trench run from A New Hope, to original missions that bridged the gap between the prequel trilogy and the original films, Rogue Leader is still one of the best GameCube games ever made, and is in dire need of a remaster.
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