Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm and EA lost the exclusive video game rights, Star Wars video games have been few and far between. When they are released, they are either met with complete scorn, as with the revamped Battlefront games, or they quickly become beloved like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. However, there is an issue that fans are starting to face regardless of the games’ quality – story fatigue.
The universe of Star Wars is vast, even after the separation of stories to “Legends” (formerly the “Expanded Universe” and no longer adhered to) and “Canon” (also known as the “Disney timeline”), yet a majority of modern Star Wars games are based on what is currently dubbed the “Dark Times” by Disney. It’s high time that changes, and video game fans can enjoy games beyond the Dark Times era. More specifically, perhaps video game studios should consider moving into creating stories around the recently announced High Republic Era, following in the footsteps of Star Wars Eclipse.
What Are the Dark Times?
Not to be confused with “The Dark Ages” part of the Legends timeline, the recently dubbed “Dark Times” begins at the end of Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith from the moment Supreme Chancellor Palpatine proclaimed Order 66 up until the events of Episode 4: A New Hope. On the other hand, the “Dark Ages” occurred roughly during the Old Republic Era – including the events of the infamous Jedi-Sith Wars. It was a time when the Republic ceased to exist in the eyes of the many.
Many Star Wars games fall around the Dark Times era, the most notable games being the beloved X-Wing series and the critically acclaimed Jedi: Fallen Order. 2020’s Star Wars: Squadrons is set during the “New Republic” era – events succeeding Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, thus not falling under the Dark Times.
When Is the High Republic Era?
The “High Republic Era”, as it has been recently named, is the name Disney gave to the period of the 200-or so years between the Fall of the Old Republic and the Age of the Empire and is the name of Disney’s latest multimedia project. The beginning of the High Republic Era is considered to be the start of the “Golden Age of the Jedi”, as the Sith were thought to be made extinct at the end of the Jedi-Sith War.
The High Republic Era was a time when the Galactic Republic and the mighty Jedi Order kept the peace in a freshly war-torn galaxy, supposedly free from the clutches of the Sith for good. The Jedi essentially took high offices aside from that of the Supreme Chancellor, and this Era was a time of exploration as well as expansion into the Outer Rim. However, it was also an era of a shaky peace, as evil non-Sith entities still roamed the galaxy during a time when communications between far-spanning worlds relied on hyperspace couriers.
Stories From the High Republic Era That Can Be Turned Into Video Games
Currently, there are no published novels, comics, or shows from the official High Republic Era, and there aren’t any video games. The highly popular Star Wars: The Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic games are set right before this period. While it is a newly named “era,” the current Star Wars canon is as vast as ever, and there are many aspects of the High Republic Era that could be drawn upon as well, including those from the Legends timeline.
One of the more interesting tales from the High Republic Era that could be made into either a stand-alone game or even a series is that of Count Dooku. Dooku was born during the later years of the High Republic Era, and as mentioned in the events of Attack of the Clones, he was a member of the Jedi before turning to the dark side. While several novels and comic books were made telling the story of Dooku, his adoption by the Jedis and subsequent training as a padawan under Yoda would be a great story to tell through the video game medium.
Another fun aspect of Star Wars’ High Republic Era is the founding and rapid expansion of the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts. These were a group of people spanning races that studied the vast number of creatures that inhabit the galaxy – on-world and off-world. The Galactic Society is the Star Wars equivalent to Harry Potter’s Newt Scamander or even the Professors of the Pokemon games. It is easy to imagine a solid Star Wars game where players are tasked with discovering and studying curious creatures scattered across the galaxy in all its dangers and beauty. That’s precisely what a games studio can do with the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts.
The Great Hyperspace Disaster is another big story arc within the High Republic Era that is ripe for a video game. This event highlights the absolute importance of hyperspace travel within the Era — and how dire it was to create a functioning long-range communications system. The Disaster also touches on the shaky peace mentioned before, as tensions run high within the government of Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh and a number of enemies that still lurk within the galaxy – namely, the Nihil. Games based around the Great Hyperspace Disaster could involve playable hyperspace travel, where players would be maneuvering Republic ships in the style of the Ultra Warp Ride in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
A Time For Change, Star Wars Games Must Have
While new video games set in the Dark Times could still be enjoyable, it can’t be denied that the stories from that era have been bled dry. The new Imperial Empire fights off the Rebel Alliance. A Force-sensitive person must hide from the forces of the Empire before libertating worlds under the tyranny of the Empire. These are all stories available across many mediums. It’s about time games studios took hold of other aspects of Star Wars lore, especially from the newly minted High Republic Era.
Star Wars Games to Play Before the High Republic Era Launches
