When it comes to the storyline of the Star Wars franchise, many of the video games are placed at various moments in time in the story, ranging from the early Clone Wars to as far on as shortly after The Empire Strikes Back. However, there is a method to the madness—the Star Wars video games all take place in a specific order. If you’re looking for a way to experience the action in a galaxy far, far away in chronological order, here’s how to play every single game for the most linear story possible. This list will include only canon games that appear on video game consoles—so mobile games and browser games will not be listed.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Released in 2017, this prequel-sequel to Battlefront begins in 32 BBY and later jumps forward all the way to 35 ABY. This is because this game’s story spans thirty years, starting on the tail end of the Galactic Civil War and concluding with the destruction of Starkiller Base. Because its Darth Maul content starts so far back at 32 BBY, Battlefront II is the earliest console Star Wars game in the lineup. The game mainly follows Imperial commander Iden Versio, who attempts to avenge the Emperor after witnessing the destruction of the second Death Star. With so much content in Battlefront II, there’s no shortage of events spanning all 30 years in its time range.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
This original story about a surviving Jedi Knight takes place 5 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, placing it at 14 BBY. The story of Fallen Order revolves around Cal Kestis, a Jedi who is unexpectedly thrown into the Galactic Civil War and must come to terms with his fate with the Force. Along the way, Kestis meets lots of new people and discovers what it means to be a Jedi. His isolated story is full of twists and turns, but if you’re interested in looking at how a new Jedi adapts to the tumult of the world around him, look no further than Fallen Order.
Star Wars: Vader Immortal Episodes I-III
This virtual reality set of episodes takes place in an unknown spot in the timeline, but it is estimated to take place between 2 and 0 BBY. Released for the Oculus Quest and Rift VR headsets in late 2019, these short installments feature a player adventuring through the jungle planet Mustafar to retrieve an important item that will heal the damage done to the planet. During the story, the player must also dodge the advances of the encroaching Darth Vader, who is also attempting to steal the item. Though little information exists about these VR installations, the stories within them are canon—and they are best experienced after Fallen Order.
Star Wars Battlefront
This entry in the Battlefront series does not contain its own original story in the Star Wars timeline but rather adapts the battles from the original trilogy of films, from A New Hope to Return of the Jedi. These fights take place between 0 BBY and 5 ABY. The game is a nostalgia trip for fans of the original trilogy, with the ability to play as characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and 11 others. For fans looking for adaptations of major events in the Star Wars films, Battlefront is the perfect game to play.
Star Wars Squadrons
This VR experience is for those who love the idea of piloting starships. Taking place after the Battle of Endor, Star Wars Squadrons revolves around the player flying both a ship for the Republic and a ship for the Empire. The game is unique in that it gives each story a side in the conflict, and each team of pilots has their own stories and tie-ins with who they’re fighting for. The game even gives eager fliers an option to practice their skills with a unique sandbox mode that lets them put in as many ships as they want. For those eager to practice pilot skills, Squadrons is the perfect game to take on.
Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay
Another VR entry in the list of Star Wars games, Droid Repair Bay is set in 34 ABY, occurring concurrently with The Last Jedi. Players of this title can get hands-on experience with repairing different types of droids aboard Leia’s ship. The game even introduced several new kinds of droids that had yet to be seen in any films or other Star Wars media. Although it is considerably less tense and action-packed than many of the other entries on the list, Droid Repair Bay is the perfect type of game for fans looking for a little behind-the-scenes world-building.
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
Similiar to Droid Repair Bay, Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is another VR adventure that gives players the chance to live out a role in the world of Star Wars. However, Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is a lot more involved. It gives players the chance to live within a story and make decisions in it as though they were living out their lives in the universe. This original story is set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker films and is heavily dependent on the choices the player makes. For fans looking for the chance to create lots of influence on a story, Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and its second part, Last Call, are the perfect games to play.
(featured image: Disney)
