TheStar Warsfranchise is no stranger to video games. It has had so many that at one point it even had its own publisher, LucasArts, which largely produced and distributed games with theStar Warslabel prior to the Disney buyout. There have been a lot ofStar Warsgames over the years in different genres. Some were great, others less so.Knights of the Old Republicnot only has a huge fanbase that still persists today but went on to be a big influence on many later RPGs. On the other hand, trying to compete againstMortal KombatandStreet FighterwithMasters of Teras Kasiended in disaster.
Related:Andor Showrunner Says The Series Could Challenge Fans' Understanding Of Star Wars Canon
It would seem that every conceivable genre of video gamehas been done at some point with theStar Warsbrand- action, shooters, racing, puzzles, edutainment, RPGs, flight simulators, MMOs, life simulation, hack-and-slash, and real-time strategy have all been done at some point, some of them multiple times. One would be hard-pressed to find anything that hasn’t been done… and yet there are still afew genres that theStar Warsfranchise has yet to touch, which is unfortunate because some of them have potential to make some fascinating games.
4GTA-Style Open World
Although probably not the first of its kind, theGrand Theft Autoseries popularized a particular brand of open world game that has been imitated by many, sometimes known as the “GTA Clone.” This is a big open-world action game, usually set in an urban environment with stories about crime and corruption, that placesa heavy emphasis on weapons and vehicles. Rockstar itself imitated the format inL.A. Noire. Other notable examples include theMafiaseries,Watch Dogs,LEGO City Undercover, andSimpsons: Hit and Run.
And yet this format has not been touched byStar Wars, despite it having some interesting opportunities. For one thing, crime is a big deal in theStar Warsgalaxy. There are plenty of criminal organizations with a dangerous amount of power, but they are not usually the main focus. A story that could really dive into the criminal underworld instead of focusing on Jedi vs. Sith or rebellion vs. Empire would be a great way to explore some lesser-known parts of lore. They already have several urban crime-filled worlds to pick from- Nar Shadaa, Taris, Daiyu, Hosnian Prime, and Coruscant.
But this would be more than just a planet-wideGTAbecause theStar Warsconnection would add some interesting twists. For one thing, many of these city planets arelayered. Players would not be sticking to a strictly horizontal plane like they might inGrand Theft Auto. Sometimes they need to go up and down between different levels of the city. There is also the different types of vehicles that could be used. Many of them, like speeders and swoop bikes, would blur the lines between air and ground vehicles. These details would mean a whole aspect of verticality to work with that is not usually seen in games of this type.
3Hero Shooter
Not everyStar Warsgame has to be firmly rooted in building on existing canon. Sometimes they can just be fun and silly. The franchise has had success with multiplayer games in the past, from multiplayer options inBattlefrontto theStar Wars GalaxiesandStar Wars:The Old RepublicMMOs, plus mobile titles likeForce ArenaandGalaxy of Heroes, sothe idea of a big multiplayer game is not a huge stretch. But what have they not done yet? How about a hero shooter in the style ofTeam Fortress 2orOverwatch.
This is a distinct type of multiplayer game that has gained popularity in recent years. The idea behind it is pretty simple. Players are sorted into competing teams, and controlone of several playable charactersthat each have different strengths and weaknesses. The idea is for the different players to use teamwork to accomplish a task, usually while also doing everything in their power to thwart a rival team’s objective.
Related:Book Of Boba Fett: Everything We Want In Season 2
Star Warscould have some fun with this approach. Obviously this would not be rooted in canon, but that could be a selling point. Not being bound by consistency means opportunities to create outlandish teams, like having Jyn Erso fight alongside Jar Jar Binks, Kylo Ren, and General Grievous. Such a game would probably want to avoid taking itself too seriously, maybe even incorporating a cartoonish aesthetic and humor poking fun at the franchise. Of course, part of the challenge would be making sure every character has their own unique gameplay style. That part might be difficult, but if it can be pulled off having a large (and regularly updated) roster of characters would leave room for some varied combinations.
A Hero Shooter based onStar Warscould also have some advantages from a business standpoint. Updating it with characters from upcoming projects would be a great way to build up hype. Another possibility is using it as a testing ground for new character ideas- releasing concepts for characters and seeing how they are received before they make it into official canon.
2Survival
Games centered on throwing the player into a hostile environment, usually starting with minimal resources and gradually learning how to handle themselves, have gained a decent amount of popularity lately. Some are more open-ended likeArk: Survival EvolvedandStranded Deep. Others are more story-oriented, such asDays Gone,The Last of UsandTwo, theFar CryandMetroseries, and the most recentTomb Raidergames. But there are some common patterns. Many of these types of games are structured around the player gathering resources, often with some form of crafting mechanic, as well as accumulating skills and equipment that gradually provides more options.
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Orderhas shades of the survival game, and definitely shows influence fromTomb Raider,but it is more focused on melee combat than learning how to make use of the environment. Cal never has to learn to use the environment the same way Lara Croft or Ellie had to, nor does he have to collect resources or craft items. This is somewhat ironic consideringthe upcoming sequelis literally titledSurvival, but a proper survival game would be an interesting addition toStar Wars.
There are a few ways a survival game could go. The simplest route would be a game centered around a character being stranded on an isolated planet with a hostile environment, and presumably gradually accumulating improved equipment and skills as they learn to handle themselves. This would be a fun opportunity to further develop one of the more isolated worlds. But if they wanted a more recognizableStar Warssetting, how about having the player character crash on Endor and live with Ewoks? If they preferred going the route of post-apocalyptic survival, they could throw the player into a major disaster or tragedy. For example, what about a game focused on someone caught in the middle of the Clone Wars? Or maybe trying to get by after their home is destroyed by the Sith/Empire/First Order? WhileJedi Fallen Ordermight not have delivered on the “survival” part, the idea of a survival game about Order 66 could still work.
1Stealth
A lot ofStar Warsgames emphasize action to some extent. As is common with the movies, it is usually a reasonable expectation going into anyStar Warsgame that some fighting will be involved. The degree to which action takes precedence may vary, as does the form it takes. Some games, for example, may prefer to focus on space battles while others are more interested in lightsaber or blaster combat. But usually, with a few exceptions, players can usually anticipate direct encounters with various enemies. This tendency has generally resulted inStar Warslargely ignoring another popular genre- the stealth game.
The stealth action game was first popularized by theMetal Gearseries, but has since become a staple of several iconic franchises likeAssassin’s Creed. Usually this type of game encourages players to avoid directly confronting enemies whenever possible in favor of trying to avoid drawing their attention. There have been a few games with stealth aspects.Knights of the Old Republicoffered stealth equipment. Some games included options for the player to ambush an enemy before others notice, but these were never a central mechanic.
A gamewhere the player is trying to take the quiet approachwould be an interesting change of pace, and there are several ways it could be done. One approach is a story focused on espionage rather than direct fighting, with the player being a spy or special operative for one of the major factions. A rebel or republic operative going behind enemy lines might be interesting. Or if they wanted to subvert expectations, maybe someoneconnected to the CIS. Another idea would be to take aHitmanorDishonored-esque approach byhaving the player control a bounty hunter, who gets a new target each level and can take several different paths to deal with them, possibly with consequences depending on their choices.
More:Star Wars: Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About Jar Jar Binks
