Best Star Wars Jedi Game: Top Picks Ranked

Yes, Star Wars has crowned its best video game Jedi bar none: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and its sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023) are the definitive Jedi experiences, with Survivor generally edging out Fallen Order for the top spot. These single-player action-adventure games put you in the boots of Cal Kestis, a young Padawan who survived Order 66, and they are the only Star Wars games that make you feel like a true Jedi in training—learning to wield a lightsaber, master the Force, and grow from a fugitive into a Knight. While other games feature Jedi as characters, none let you live the Jedi journey with this level of depth, polish, and respect for the lore.

Why These Games Stand Out

Fallen Order and Survivor are developed by Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. They are not MMO-lite experiences or battle royales; they are story-driven, third-person action games in the vein of Sekiro and Dark Souls, but with a more forgiving difficulty and a Star Wars heart. The core loop is exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving across interconnected planets. You play as Cal Kestis, voiced by Cameron Monaghan, and the games follow his journey from hiding to becoming a full Jedi Knight. The lightsaber combat is the best in any Star Wars game—it feels weighty, precise, and requires timing, parrying, and stamina management. You can customize your lightsaber (blade color, hilt, emitter) and your stance (single, double-bladed, dual-wield, crossguard in Survivor), and you unlock Force powers like Push, Pull, Slow, and Jedi Mind Trick. The games also feature a cast of memorable characters, including BD-1, a droid companion, and Cere Junda, a former Jedi.

Background and Development

Before Fallen Order, the last great single-player Star Wars action game was The Force Unleashed (2008), which was more of a power fantasy. Fallen Order was announced at E3 2018, and it was a major bet for EA and Lucasfilm, which had been criticized for the lack of single-player Star Wars games. The game was released in November 2019 to critical acclaim, selling over 10 million copies by 2020. It was praised for its story, characters, and the way it integrated the Force and lightsaber mechanics into a cohesive whole. Survivor, released in April 2023, continued Cal’s story five years later, with a larger scope, more planets, and a more refined combat system. It was also well-received, though some players noted performance issues on PC at launch. Both games are considered the gold standard for Jedi gameplay, and they have inspired a new generation of Star Wars games, like the upcoming open-world title from Ubisoft.

How the Games Work: Core Mechanics

The games are built on a few key systems that make you feel like a Jedi:

• Lightsaber Combat: You have light and heavy attacks, a block, and a parry. Enemies have unblockable attacks (red flashes) that you must dodge. Timing is everything. You can also use the Force to slow enemies, push them off ledges, or pull them toward you.
• Force Powers: You unlock Force Push, Pull, Slow, and later, Jedi Mind Trick (which turns enemies into allies). Each power has a cooldown and can be upgraded. In Survivor, you also get Force Lift and Force Slam.
• Stances: In Survivor, you can equip two of five stances at a time: Single (balanced), Double-Bladed (crowd control), Dual-Wield (fast, aggressive), Crossguard (heavy, slow, high damage), and Blaster (a lightsaber with a blaster, for range). Each stance has its own skill tree and moveset.
• Exploration and Metroidvania: You explore planets like Bogano, Zeffo, and Kashyyyk, and you’ll find shortcuts and secret areas that require new abilities to access. You get a map and a scanner (BD-1) that reveals lore and secrets.
• Skill Trees: You earn skill points by defeating enemies and finding secrets, and you invest them in three trees: Survival (health and defense), Lightsaber (combat moves), and Force (Force powers). In Survivor, there are also stances-specific trees.

How to Choose Between Fallen Order and Survivor

If you’re new to the series, start with Fallen Order. It’s shorter (about 20 hours), cheaper, and it introduces Cal and the core mechanics. It also has a more focused story. Survivor is a direct sequel, and it assumes you know the events of the first game. It’s bigger (about 30 hours), with more planets, more stances, and a more complex combat system. If you only play one, Survivor is the better game, but you’ll miss the emotional weight of Cal’s journey. If you’re short on time, Fallen Order is a complete experience. If you want the full Jedi fantasy with more options, go for Survivor. Both games have a story difficulty mode (Jedi Story) that makes combat easier, so you can focus on the narrative if you prefer.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A common misconception is that these games are “Souls-likeâ€� and therefore brutally difficult. While they do have a stamina bar, checkpoints (meditation points), and enemies that respawn, they are far more accessible. The difficulty settings range from Story (very easy) to Grandmaster (very hard), and you can change it at any time. Another misconception is that you play as a fully trained Jedi from the start. You don’t—you start as a Padawan who has lost his connection to the Force, and you regain your abilities over time. That’s a feature, not a bug. A common problem is getting lost. The maps can be confusing, especially in Fallen Order. Use BD-1’s holomap, and remember that you can fast-travel between meditation points in Survivor (a feature added after fan feedback). Another issue is that some players find the platforming (wall-running, swinging) finicky. If you’re stuck, check your surroundings for a different path—the game often has multiple routes.

Comparisons to Other Star Wars Games

How do these games stack up against other Jedi-centric Star Wars games? Here’s a quick comparison:

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008): More of a power fantasy—you play as Starkiller, who is ridiculously overpowered. The combat is simpler and more button-mashy. Fallen Order is more grounded and requires more skill.
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003): A role-playing game with turn-based combat. You can be a Jedi, but the gameplay is completely different. KOTOR is about story choice, not action.
• Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (2003): A classic first-person/third-person shooter with lightsaber combat. It has a multiplayer focus and less story depth. Fallen Order is the modern evolution of that idea.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (MMO): You can play as a Jedi, but it’s an MMO with tab-target combat. The story is good, but the Jedi feel is diluted.

Costs and Availability

Fallen Order is widely available on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, and even Stadia (now defunct). It’s often on sale for under $10. Survivor is also on all modern platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) and is usually around $30–$40 on sale. Both are available on EA Play (now part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) and PC Game Pass. If you want to play both, you can often find a bundle or buy them during a Steam or PlayStation sale. There are no microtransactions in either game—all cosmetics are earned through gameplay or purchased with in-game currency (which you earn by playing).

Safety and Accuracy

These games are rated T for Teen by the ESRB, and they contain fantasy violence (lightsaber combat, some bloodless dismemberment of droids and creatures) and mild language. They are suitable for most teens, but parents should be aware that the combat is realistic and can be intense. There are no gambling mechanics, no multiplayer, and no online interactions. The games are single-player only, so there’s no risk of encountering toxic players. The difficulty can be frustrating for younger players, but the Story difficulty setting is a great option. As for accuracy to the Star Wars canon, the games are officially part of the new Disney canon, and they tie into the broader timeline. They are set between Episode III and Rogue One, and they feature a cameo from a certain iconic character (you’ll know it when you see it). The games are also respectful of the lore—they don’t break established rules about the Force or lightsabers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play Fallen Order before Survivor?
Yes, you should. Survivor is a direct sequel, and the story picks up where Fallen Order left off. You’ll miss a lot of character development and emotional beats if you skip the first game. The gameplay is also more complex in Survivor, so it’s easier to learn the basics in Fallen Order.

Which game is harder, Fallen Order or Survivor?
Survivor is generally harder, especially on higher difficulties, because enemies are more aggressive and there are more complex boss fights. However, Survivor also gives you more tools (more stances, more Force powers) to deal with the challenge. The difficulty settings are the same in both games, so you can always lower it.

Are these games open-world?
No, they are not fully open-world. They are best described as “hub-basedâ€� or “Metroidvaniaâ€� games. You have a ship (the Mantis) that lets you travel between planets, and each planet is a large, interconnected area with shortcuts and secrets. Survivor has a larger scale, but it’s still not a true open world like Grand Theft Auto.

Can I play as a female Jedi?
No, the protagonist is Cal Kestis, a male character. You cannot customize his gender or appearance beyond his clothing and lightsaber. However, you do meet and play briefly as other characters in some missions, including a female Jedi in Survivor.

Are there any multiplayer or co-op modes?
No, both games are strictly single-player. There is no multiplayer, no co-op, and no online features. This is a deliberate choice by the developers to focus on the narrative and immersive experience.

Will there be a third game?
Yes, a third and final game in the Jedi series has been announced, but no release date has been confirmed. It’s expected to conclude Cal’s story. In the meantime, you can play both existing games to catch up.

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