#8: Star Wars Outlaws

A key moment I remember distinctly in Star Wars Outlaws was flying over to Tattooine, landing, and then walking into the famous cantina seen in the original 1977 film. Moseying around its iconic bar was incredible. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since seeing the original film as a kid. And then, I left the bar and kept walking out into the rest of the city. And then past the city. Into the dunes and rocky cliffs; areas never seen in any Star Wars movie or show before. That was maybe even more mind-blowing. Finally, I had a giant, photorealistic recreation of Star Wars and I was free to wander about it, discovering both iconic locations and spots never before seen. That’s when I knew Outlaws was one of my favorite games of 2024.

Sure, the game’s story is very Star Wars-y and I like it a lot. Yes, the gunplay feels wild and loose in a way that reminds me of the barely choreographed action of the first film. And of course, I adore Nix—your in-game pet. All of that stuff is great. But a lot of Star Wars Outlaws isn’t. The forced stealth sections, the space battles, the clunky speeder bike, and the janky open world.

But whatever, I don’t care about any of that stuff because I was able to mingle through a crowded market on Tatooine and grab some sci-fi street food at a nearby vendor, all while recognizable Star Wars aliens walked by me. Star Wars Outlaws lets me truly immerse myself in a franchise I love so much, and that’s enough for me. — Zack Zwiezen