This is a personalized list of Star Wars First-Person Shooter (FPS) video games that I consider to be the absolute best in the genre and everyone should play!
Last week, we started a series where we recommend and describe some of the most iconic and memorable Star Wars games for each genre. The first article was about the best Action/Adventure games, this time it’s the turn for FPS (First-person shooter).
FPS games are among the most popular ones in modern gaming. They’re super fun, fast-paced, skillful and accessible for most people. And just like every other genre, there’s a Star Wars game for you!
What is an FPS game? Basically, a first-person shooter is a game centered on weapon combat (mainly guns). The player experiences a first-person perspective. Usually, the goal is to go from point A to point B and eliminate all the enemies that are on your way. As time passes the games have evolved and added different elements, but that is the basic definition.
Remember that this is a personalized list and not a ranking. With that clarified, let’s get into it.
Of course, Republic Commando
A hyper-lethal squad tasked with impossible missions. No reinforcements, no Jedi, no clone army to back you up. An incredible game with a straightforward story, a lot of possibilities for you to experiment with and elements that make it a one-of-a-kind experience among Star Wars games. Vulkk’s absolute favorite, by the way.
Developed and published by LucasArts, released in 2005 for Windows and Xbox. It is currently available for Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox and PC. You play as the leader of Delta Squad, a four-man group of Clone Commandos, some of the best soldiers the Republic has to offer. Directly trained by Mandalorian mercenaries under brutal conditions to complete what others would consider suicide missions.
RC-1138 (Boss), is the leader of Delta Squad, considered an exceptional soldier even among his kind. Adaptable, smart, skilled, resourceful and extremely dangerous. These traits qualified him for serving as a reliable leader of Delta. His armor has distinguishing orange markings on the chest, shoulders and helmet.
RC-1262 (Scorch), munitions expert and explosives technician. The heart and soul of Delta Squad. Often banters with Sev (RC-1207), as most brothers do. Don’t let his sense of humor fool you, he’s an expert at his job and really enjoys it. His armor has yellow patches on both wrists and legs.
RC-1140 (Fixer), technology expert and proficient at computer slicing. A soldier that does his job by the book. If Boss isn’t around, he’s the one in charge. Unlike Sev and Scorch, he’s a quiet guy and gives his opinion only when asked to. His armor has green stripes.
RC-1207 (Sev), unmatched sniper and the fiercest fighter of the four. A soldier who loves combat and the heat of battle. The rest of Delta Squad often jokes about him being a psychopath due to his personality and aggressiveness. His armor has blood-red markings that often make others wonder if it’s actual blood or not.
This game is all about fighting as a team, if you choose to play it as a traditional shooter and ignore the tactical options available you will struggle. Even though these tactical options are limited, you always can choose between calling the rest of Delta to your position, ordering them to secure a position, sending them to kill everything that moves
Delta Squad carries aDC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System, a configurable weapon system capable of serving as a blaster rifle, sniper rifle and anti-armor grenade launcher. Your secondary weapon is a DC-15s Side Arm Blaster, your suit also incorporates a retractable vibroblade for moments when your enemies get too close to you. You can choose to use 4 types of explosives depending on the situation; flash detonators, electronics counter detonators, thermal detonators, and sonic(sticky) detonators.
There are certain moments where you can order any member of Delta Squad to provide cover on sniping or anti-armor positions, set up a demolition charge, slice a computer, use a turret, breach a door, use a bacta tank or revive a fallen squadmate. Think before committing to something, as it could backfire and delay your progress for several minutes.
Despite being an elite unit, you’re still very vulnerable. Positioning and using the proper weapon for each enemy is key if you intend to finish the game, especially in higher difficulties. Even a couple of B2 Super Battle Droids can wipe your team if you’re not careful.
Across the campaign, you’ll face a wide variety of enemies; droids, Geonosians, Trandoshans and even IG-100 MagnaGuards. They all have an exploitable weakness but it’s up to you to discover it. It is possible to defeat them without doing so, but it requires more time and ammo.
The missions are what you could expect from this type of game, infiltrate the enemy lines to kill an objective, rescue a prisoner or takedown an important installation. The story will take you to 3 different main locations; Geonosis, an Acclamator-class assault ship named The Prosecutor and the Wookie home world of Kashyyyk.
This game is surprisingly violent compared to the majority of Star Wars games. There’s blood everywhere, you get to remove heads with sniper headshots, and Geonosians can explode. I was shocked the first time I played it, but in a good way, it felt different.
The soundtrack is truly unique. Mandalorian battle songs create an immersive experience that you’ll remember for years. Vode An is the main song, if you have a Star Wars playlist you need to include it. Other Mandalorian songs that appear in Republic Commando are Ka’rta Tor, Kote Darasuum, Gra’tua Cuun and Rage of the Shadow Warriors.
We all know the glory Jedi generals claim when winning an important battle, but the sacrifices made by the troops are often ignored. Republic Commando provides a different perspective about the war and the horrors that clones experience daily.
Once you’re done with the last mission, you’ll feel accomplished, but what is said in the last conversation will leave you with feelings of both sadness and angriness.
If you are a fan of Clone troopers and love a good FPS that requires more than just shooting your way out this is the perfect game for you!
Have you heard of Dark Forces?
Play as a mercenary for the Rebel Alliance, face off against fan-favorite characters and prevent the Empire from completing a project that could be devastating for the rebels. One of the best Star Wars games of its time.
Developed and published by LucasArts in 1995 for PlayStation. Currently available on Steam (PC).
“Isn’t this game like 30 years old?” Well, technically it’s 27 years old. I know it’s probably something that some of you wouldn’t even consider playing in 2022, and I totally get you. It is outdated in probably any aspect you can think of. But it is considered a classic for a reason, if you have the possibility, you should give it a shot, at least once. It might also help you appreciate how far technology has come.
Dark Forces introduce Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working for the Rebel Alliance, formerly a Stormtrooper. He would become a very important character, as he appears in other Star Wars games later.
Missions take place both before and after Episode IV A New Hope. In the first levels, you are only required to steal important information or sabotage imperial facilities. But everything changes when you discover the Dark Trooper Project.
To delay the Empire’s progress, Katarn goes to different locations and sabotages their operations. Some of these places are; Anoat City, The Executor, The ship of Jabba The Hutt, Nar Shaddaa, and an Imperial Detention Center.
The sound effects and music are repetitive, sometimes even boring but it’s not something that will make you want to quit playing it. The shooting animation is surprisingly good.
You’ll recognize most weapons and enemies right away. I didn’t play it at the time of release (because I was 2 years old) but I’m sure encountering enemies that appeared in the original trilogy must have been extremely fun, especially that boss fight, if you played it you know what I’m talking about.
The level design is incredible for its time, most of them feel very unique and you get absorbed by the atmosphere. Though, I must warn you that getting lost is common. Sometimes you’ll end up walking in circles for 10-20 minutes, it can be very frustrating, but it is worth a try.
Special hint: Star Wars Battlefront games
A series of games that completely changed the way people view and play Star Wars games. With all the elements for excellence; gameplay, soundtrack, combat mechanics, vehicles, a wide option of characters/classes, space battles, story, narrative, voice acting, multiplayer, DLC.
History remembers two sets of Star Wars Battlefront games. The two early ones, that everybody loves and the two more recent titles released by EA that bring some controversy into the game alongside excellent gameplay and game mechanics.
Between all of them combined, you can play with almost any important character, vehicle or unit you can think of; Mace Windu, a Tie Interceptor, Commando Droids, Sith Troopers, you name it. Even if you’re not a big fan of First-Person Shooters, I guarantee you’ll enjoy at least one aspect of a Battlefront game.
It doesn’t matter which Battlefront game you choose to play; you can instantly get into an amazing battle and fight for the side of your choice, relive one of your favorite moments of the movies, or just explore the map to see if there’s something hidden.
There are positives and negatives about all of them, but I won’t talk about that here because Battlefront games require their own article, there are so many elements and things to talk about that I feel the need to give them their own space out of respect for the title.
A stand-alone article will be released soon to properly discuss and detail the history and mark that the Battlefront games left in the gaming community and what they represent.
UPDATE: You can now read about the Epic and also kind of Sad History of the Star Wars Battlefront games over the years.
Do you agree with the list? What other games would you include in it?
