8 Star Wars Games Where Being a Jedi Wasn’t the Most Interesting Part

Since Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was released in 1977, we've all at some point dreamed of being a Jedi. I remember being eight years old when I got my tiny little hands on a build-your-own lightsaber set, letting me craft my very own yellow lightsaber (the greatest lightsaber color).

However, as I've gotten older, and as the franchise has gone on to tell stories free of the Force, I can't deny that the allure of just being a regular person in this universe has become equally, if not more, enticing.

Thankfully, video games have given us ample freedom to dip our feet into stories where being a Jedi is almost irrelevant to the grand scheme of the game, letting us choose a wide assortment of weapons and characters separate from what we'd expect from Force-wielding characters.

If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you're in luck, because we'll be looking at 8 different Star Wars games where being a Jedi is far from its most interesting quality.

8 Star Wars: Galaxies

The Only Game To Be Killed By Featuring Jedi

.

Star Wars: Galaxies was such a beloved MMO in its heyday, and a vital reason for that was that there was no Jedi or Sith class to be found. Fans would flock to the game and immerse themselves as regular characters in the Star Wars universe, spending hours at the cantina, running their own shop, and upskilling in various crafts to help their fellow players. That would all change a few months after release, when the developers decided to add an official Jedi class.

This choice would turn the entire game on its head, as the social aspects of the game would no longer be the focus. Quickly, the game's focus became grinding out this quest to become a Jedi as fast as possible, treating the once beloved social and crafting aspects as a mere checklist to sprint through. It didn't help that the Jedi class was so powerful; it made playing anything else feel redundant, meaning that if you wanted to tackle higher-end content, you needed to be a Jedi anyway.

To this day, Star Wars: Galaxies is a fantastic case study in how giving players the ultimate power fantasy can remove the desire to have anything else, and suddenly, your massive multiplayer game no longer feels that social anymore.

7 Star Wars Battlefront 2

Just Like The Simulations

The Battlefront series has always been known to satisfy the fantasy of being a footsoldier during some of Star Wars’ most iconic battles. It also blends this with the power fantasy of playing as iconic force users like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Darth Vader. In saying that, I don't think I'm alone in believing that playing as a Jedi or a Sith in Star Wars: Battlefront 2 feels less rewarding compared to playing as your standard trooper.

While it’s fun to force push people away, I’d say the far more interesting core of the game is those moments when you're a lone soldier making a difference on the battlefield. I challenge you to find a more dopamine-inducing moment in the game than playing a Heavy, deploying your Sentry skill, and bursting down an entire squad of enemies trying to push through a choke. It can’t be done.

There are also a wide variety of non-force-using heroes to play, like Han Solo or Boba Fett who, in some cases, far outshine some lightsaber heroes, and are a blast to annoy Darth Vader abusers with.

6 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Multiple Classes To Choose From

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a narrative-driven MMO from the team at BioWare, and features up to 8 unique class stories set during a tense galactic war.

You have your standard Jedi and Sith classes that differ in their focus on combat and force prowess, but some of the game’s most engaging stories come from its non-force-using classes.

In fact, the Imperial Agent class' story would go on to be a fan favorite, thanks to its engaging cast of side characters and focus on espionage. Another interesting mechanic in the game is its morality system, which lets you play a more light or dark-side aligned character, letting you deviate from expected outcomes for your class's archetype.

For example, you can choose to spare high-profile targets, breaking from your superior's orders to make a different tactical decision. If you play a Bounty Hunter character, you can reject corrupt Sith employers, or help fake the death of certain targets while taking a moral stance.

5 Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords

Reject The Force Entirely

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 is a mature exploration of the force and the universe's connection to it. Which is why it's so interesting that you can go the entire game without needing to rely on it. In fact, it's possible to roleplay a character who outright rejects it.

You play as a former Jedi who has cut themselves off from the Force. Over the course of the game, you'll slowly reconnect with your Jedi history as you heal from the trauma of your past. However, it's also possible to go your entire playthrough without using the Force or a lightsaber, and instead embrace the uncivilized role of a Gunslinger.

If you're a fan of the game and of its antagonist Kreia, it's definitely worth trying out a playthrough where you follow her philosophy best here and reject the Force where you can. It leads to some pretty unique scenarios that really test your understanding of the game, but also of Star Wars as a whole.

4 Star Wars: Empire At War

Command Entire Armies At Your Disposal

If you’ve ever wanted to be a commander of an epic Star Wars battle, choosing which units are mobilized on the field, then Star Wars: Empire At War is for you.

Like any RTS, you’ll start building up your army, collecting resources, and investing in upgrades before moving your units across the map to route your enemies.

Sure, the game will feature force users as controllable units. But their ability to turn the tide of the battlefield is far outmatched compared to, say, an orbital strike.

3 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Play As Nearly Any of Your Favorite Star Wars Characters

In this ultimate version of the Star Wars LEGO games, you'll gain access to nearly every single Star Wars Glup Shito you can think of. Sure, you can play as a wide variety of different Jedi and Sith that pop up throughout the franchise, but the most interesting characters here are in fact the non-force users.

Characters like Jar Jar or Padme have access to unique abilities that open up different terrain, letting you access new previously restricted areas to grab those much-desired collectibles. Even some of the non-Jedi characters can end up being the strongest of the roster. Take Boba and Jango Fett, for example, whose access to Jetpacks can entirely bypass environmental puzzles.

Powerhouses like General Grevious and the First Order Flametrooper can also melt through boss battles, trivializing most encounters in the game, proving you don't need the Force to be the biggest fish around.

2 Star Wars: Dark Forces

A Game More Interesting Than Its Jedi Sequels

I don't think I'm shaking any hornet's nests when I say that Star Wars: Dark Forces may very well be the most important Star Wars game. Not only has it served as the blueprint for major storylines in The Mandalorian, but it was also our introduction to Kyle Katarn, one of the most beloved legacy characters in Star Wars' history.

This Quake-inspired shooter follows Katarn as he uncovers the Empire's plans to build these Dark Trooper forces and unleash them onto the galaxy. Granted, this game predates the reveal that Katarn's father was a Jedi, revealing his very own force sensitivity. But it's no surprise that this title is the most enduring in the character's legacy, and I'd argue it's because his Jedi origins don't get in the way.

1 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Who Needs The Force When You Have A TL-50?

Funny how a game with “Jedi” twice in its name ends up on a list like this, but believe me, it’s warranted.

Taking place in a now-alternate universe where Luke Skywalker is able to rebuild his Jedi order, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy has you play as a Padawan who embarks on a quest to stop a dark cult from resurrecting a Sith lord.

While you could spend your quest using your lightsaber to get by, your arsenal will expand into a wide range of guns, grenades and more, which you can freely switch to in the heat of combat. There isn't a more satisfying moment in the game than spotting a Sith Acolyte from far away, pulling out your Tenloss Disruptor Rifle, and disintegrating him before he can react.

You’ll also be able to use the Force to enhance your defenses and mobility, becoming less of your traditional Jedi Knight and more like Doomguy.