Availability:
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Windows (Steam Deck Unsupported), macOS, iOS, Android, Original Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords: Windows (Steam Deck YMMV), macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Original Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic first arrived in 2003, and with it the mold for Mass Effect and many subsequent RPGs was born. Starting with BioWare’s (Mass Effect, Dragon Age) pioneering first entry and ending with Obsidian’s (The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity) thrilling sequel, KotOR is an essential part of modern gaming history and a damn great sci-fi experience by way of the Star Wars universe.
Working with source material that’s more fantastic than what we likely expect to see in Starfield, you’ll get the choice of being a Jedi or a Sith, with some room to hang out in the middle as well—though as a ‘00-era game, some of the morality choices feel a little dated by today’s standards. Given the game’s age, that’s not the only aspect showing its age. Combat, in particular, feels a little rigid, though you can pause it to get a sense of what’s going on in case you feel overwhelmed. If you’re down with its quicks, KotOR remains a wonderful Star Wars RPG.
Taking place 4,000 years before Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the events of the game are removed enough from the movies that you can really make your own story here as you unravel the secrets of the Jedi and Sith.
If you’re a Star Wars fan and haven’t played KotOR, you need to close this tab and get to it. If you’re just looking for a great RPG set in space, KotOR won’t disappoint in that category, either.
