Star Wars: A short history in video games

1983 — Star Wars

An incredibly popular arcade game that used 3D colour vector graphics to simulate Luke’s attack on the Death Star in an X-Wing fighter. A much-loved classic.

1992 — Super Star Wars
This SNES title was a 2D run-and-gun, with platforming sections and interludes involving piloting vehicles. It featured multiple playable characters with different abilities.

1994 — Star Wars: TIE Fighter
A PC and MAC sequel to Star Wars: X-Wing that improved on the action and let the player indulge their dark side by fighting for the Empire.

1997 — Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Continuing the story of Jedi Kyle Katarn from Star Wars: Dark Forces I, this first-person shooter for PC was on a grand scale with huge levels and allowed the player to pursue the light or dark side of the force.

2002 — Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
A brilliant GameCube launch title telling the story of the original trilogy through 10 levels in which players fly various craft, including the Millennium Falcon, through missions across the Star Wars universe.

2003 — Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Before they made Mass Effect and Dragon Age, BioWare developed the first 3D action role-playing Star Wars game for PC and Xbox. Proved very popular for its use of characters from outside the film plots.

2003 —Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Also for PC and Xbox, here, as a student at the Jedi Academy, it is all about engaging in first- and third-person combat with a variety of weapons, including lightsabers and force powers.

2004 — Star Wars: Battlefront
The multi-platform Battlefront series, which has a new entry out in November, focuses on large-scale conflicts between armies on various planets, where players compete against friends or the AI.

2005 — Republic Commando
Set during the Clone Wars, this tactical first-person shooter for PC and Xbox casts the player as a clone trooper and gives them control over three squad mates.

2007 — Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
One of the most popular spins on the franchise is the various Lego adventures from Traveller’s Tales. The multiplatform Complete Saga retells episodes one to six with plenty of Lego humour and charm.