Counting down the 10 Best Star Wars games isn't easy, with so many good games out there...

There are dozens of Star Wars games, and weeding out the best of them is difficult. Historically, LucasArts' and now Lucasfilm Games' oversight has ensured that developers and publishers put time and effort into crafting enjoyable Star Wars titles that don't tarnish the IP's reputation.

All the games on this list are some of the best pieces of Star Wars merchandise out there, and I can safely recommend every single one to Star Wars fans. However, not all stars gleam with the same brightness, and there are games on this list that outshine their competition. Here are the ten best Star Wars games of all time, ranked by a few humble fans.

#10: Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017)

Despite experiencing arguably one of the worst launches in gaming history (thanks to the game’s ridiculously excessive monetization, severe game balance issues, and an overall lackluster amount of content,) EA's second entry in the rebooted Battlefront series made a surprisingly strong comeback in its short post-launch lifespan. With the removal of pay-to-win elements like burn cards, hero unlocks, etc., and new maps and modes, Battlefront 2 finally redeemed itself in t??he eyes of casual playe?rs and hardcore fans alike.

While EA’s decision to abandon the game so soon after removing loot boxes (and reducing in-game monetization overall) seemed conspicuous, the developers at DICE did an excellen??t job redeeming a game that only months before would have been unsalvageable. Unfortunately, this goodwill has not prompted the announcement of a new sequel.

#9: Star Wars: Galaxies

While sadly no longer accessible in its original form, the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies lives on in the hearts and minds of Star Wars fans across the globe. While many other Star Wars games placed players in the action-heavy roles of Jedi, smugglers, and other roles that harken back to the films, Star Wars Galaxies presents you with the o??pportunity to live in the universe

Social interactions, server-wide roleplay, and collaboration were just as crucial to the gameplay as the lightsabers or an E-11 blaster rifle. Whether you wanted to be a starfighter pilot Wookie, an intergalactic Twilik entertainer, a Bothan medic, or many other combination of species and profession, you could do that. Given the passionate yet relaxed attitude of the game and its player base, it’s a little wonder that Star Wars Galaxies has continued to live on in an unofficial, community-run capac?ity.

#8: Star Wars Episode I: Racer

Whether you played it in the arcades or on a home console, Star Wars Episode I: Racer captures the frantic high-speed energy of sci-fi racing like a few others before or ??since. The frenetic speed and intensity of each race, combined with aggressive AI bots always more than happy to bump you out of the race, will give your hand-eye coord??ination a run for its money.

Whether you’re racing across the desert plains of Tatooine or along the Mon Gazza speedway, you better be prepared for all the twists and turns coming your way or you’ll find your podracing career? brought to a sudden, messy end. While the controls might be a bit jank, the hilarity of exploding and being reduced to a heap of mechanical rubble as your character’s heavily compressed voice screams in agony is enough to make one burst out laughing with masochistic glee.

#7: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

While a few other Star Wars games let players choose between the light and dark sides, usually from a light or neutral position, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed explicitly explores the darker side in greater depth. The Force Unleashed has the player take on the role of Star Killer, ??Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, who sets out to prove himself to his dark master.

The hack-and-slash combat system and the detailed physics system allow players to use their lightsaber and the Force in new and unorthodox ways. Star Killer's journey lets you explore a variety of iconic Star Wars locales as they progress through a captivating narrative about the birth of the Rebel Alliance.?? With a Nintendo Switch port released just last year, t??here’s no better time to jump in and unleash the power inside you.

#6: Star Wars: The Old Republic

Given its over thirteen-year lifespan, it’s hard to argue that Star Wars: The Old Republic hasn’t stood the test of time. Where it might lack, such as its merely passable graphical fidelity and generic art style, it mostly makes up for the vast amount of story and gameplay content. Whether you prefer to play solo, fight alongside other players in PVE missions, test your mettle in PVP, or all of the above, you can do so in this title. Including new expansions and updates over the years makes Star Wars: The Old Republic one of the best Star Wars RPGs.

#5: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Respawn Entertainment’s first foray into the universe far, far away, with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, luckily proved to be a smashing success because of the game’s deep story campaign, challenging but not necessarily unforgiving boss battles, and invigorating puzzles and platforming sections. While the consulted navigati?on and chunky performance hold the ??game back, the game soars more often than it falls.

#4: Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

Many Star Wars games to date have allowed players to experience the heroic fantasy of wielding a lightsaber against a wide range of foes. However, few have incorporated lightsaber combat mechanics as intricately as Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

The fluid responsiveness of the combat system allows players almost limitless options in terms of swing angles and directions, making you truly feel as if the force is with you. While the story-driven campaign is competently told, and its levels provide players with ample challenge, the multiplayer component truly stands out. I've played many Star Wars games, and none have made me feel as much like a Jedi than I did when I was playing Jedi Outcast.

#3: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

While the title itself now might be a bit inaccurate, owing to the addition of the recent sequel trilogy, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga presents a tempting bundle of conte??nt, with a few sprinkles of new content thrown in for good measure. The fresh inclusion of “Arcade Mode�allowed players to engage in 1-on-1 deathmatches with adjustable modifiers such as time limits and maximum lives. Likewise, “Bounty Hunter�missions allowed players to revisit previously completed levels to locate specific targets as a timer ticked down menacingly.

This enhanced re-release also saw the implementation of a “Power Up�mechanic, where the player could randomly find blue glowing orbs that would multiply their damage output, granting temporary health recovery and boosting their damage output. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is the model example of what a re-release can, and should, offer: A decent number of quality-of-life improvements and just enough bits of new content to s?way existing fans into recommitting their time and money toward it.

#2: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Even now, almost twenty years after its release, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains the best single-player Star Wars title to date. W??hile diehard fans can point to many contributing factors, the game’s extensive dialogue options left the deepest impression on me. Tied into the morality system (by which players�actions would be judged as good or evil,) the player always has to be mindful of not only what they are saying but who they are saying it to.

Choosing the “good�path may not always lead to a “good�relationship with that NPC character. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic clarifies that while both the Jedi and Sith orders may traditionally deal in absolutes, you may find yourself walking a slightly murkier path. Between the stellar voice acting, the richly sophisticated combat system, and the incredible worldbuilding, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains an out-of-this-world RPG that no Star Wars fan should overlook.

#1: Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)

It’s a little ironic that Battlefront II appears twice on the same list, but in both cases, the selection is easily justified. (This entry is not to be confused with the first on this list, a 2017 sequel to the reboot of the Battlefront series.) While the original Star Wars Battlefront (released in 2004) was a resounding success, its sequel expanded the potential for what players could hope to see in a multiplayer Star Wars game to intergalactic proportions

From its thirty-two-player multiplayer capacity to its drastically improved AI bots, there was, and still is, a lot to appreciate here. The addition of space combat gave veteran Battlefront players something of a new form of gameplay to experiment with, and the strategic Galactic Conquest mode is an addictive war-simulator that tests your resource-management and decision-making skills. Top this off with a surprisingly-enthralling single player campaign that follows the rise of the Galactic Empire through the eyes of your average Stormtrooper, and you've got the best Star Wars game ever made.

The post 10 Best Star Wars Games of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Star Wars and Lego have gone together like a glass of blue milk on a hot Tatooine day for 25 years, dominating toy aisles around the world in the process. From supplying collectors with numerous takes on the Millennium Falcon, X-Wings, and Death Stars to taking the gaming world by storm on numerous occasions, the two powerhouse brands have found no shortage of prosperity during their time together. They've even taken over home media and streaming, coming together for numerous Lego Star Wars specials throughout the years. The latest in this long line of offerings, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, seems to be the most thrilling and s?elf-referential one yet.

The four-part Rebuild the Galaxy miniseries puts the spotlight on Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), who uses an ancient relic to accidentally rewrite history. What ensues is all kinds of craziness, with Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) becoming a Sith Lord, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) abandoning his Jedi responsibilities to be a beach bum, and more. Along the way, there's plenty of in-jokes and Easter eggs for longtime Star Wars and Lego Star Wars fans to enjoy. The arguable deepest cut in the entire series is the very existence of Sig's ally, Jedi Bob (Bobby Moynihan), who, despite being unkn??own to many fans, has a fascinating story a??nd large preexisting fanbase behind him.

With that, let's travel to a brick-built galaxy far, far away to look back on the lore behind J?edi Bob.

The origin of Jedi Bob

Lego swung for the fences with its original 1999 run of Star Wars products, providing collectors and kids alike with original trilogy and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace sets galore. Thus, the two brands' working relationship continued into the new millennium, hitting another high point in 2002 with the release of more original trilogy sets and those based on the recently released Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. No matter how you slice it, the crème de la crème ??of the year's assortment was set 7163, the Republic Gunship, as seen for the first time in the aforementioned prequel during the Battle of Geonosi?s.

Though Lego was still going through some growing pains with its Star Wars offerings, the first Republic Gunship did justice to its film counterpart. The shape and colors are pretty accurate, and the minifigure selection makes sense...almost. Alongside four Republic clone troopers, two Separatist super battle droids, and a droideka is a Jedi. Not Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), not Yoda (Frank Oz), not one of the many named supporting Jedi present on Geonosis in the final act of Attack of the Clones. Just a generic Jedi with brown and gray robes, a green lightsaber, a gray beard, and a smile on his? face.

With no name on the box or within the set's manual, in 2009's Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, it was theorized tha??t this random Jedi's name is Bob, as fans had speculated previously, and the rest is history.

Attaining meme status

Star Wars fans love few things more than a goofy side-character without a backstory, any real significance to the canon, and a funny name. Thus, Jedi Bob very much fit the bill. In the years since he was introduced, fans have taken to him as a Lego Star Wars icon. His one appearance in the Lego Star Wars line has been celebrated for decades, and as the years have gone on, he has become a pretty sought-after minifigure. Over on the secondhand Lego marketplace Bricklink (where he's designated as merely "Jedi Knight"), new, used, complete, and incomplete copies of the original Jedi Bob minifigur?e go ??for a pretty penny.

Not only has Jedi Bob become an adored symbol of Lego Star Wars and a coveted collectible, but he has also attained meme status within the Lego Star Wars fandom. The Star Wars Memes Wiki gives him a fantastical backstory, painting him as one of the galaxy's most powerful and important Jedi ever. Meanwhile, over on Reddit, specifically r/PrequelMemes, one can find numerous Bob-centric posts. Some do the same as the Wiki and give him a wild history and insert him into the wider Star Wars canon, while others simply shine a spotlight on him, maintaining his relevance as his Lego Star Wars debut slips further into the past.

Thankfully for Bob's sizable fanbase, it doesn't seem the folks at Lego or Lucasfilm forgot about him, hence why they're going all out for those who've waited decades for h?is time to shine.

Jedi Bob's return to plastic form

Bearing in mind just how loved and talked-about Jedi Bob is among Lego Star Wars enthusiasts, it's no surprise that excitement was high when he was revealed as part of Rebuild the Galaxy. He'd never appeared in Lego Star Wars media before, so the fact that he was finally getting some of the spotlight, with Saturday Night Live icon Bobby Moynihan bringing him to life no less, was awesome news. It has since be?en revealed that Jedi Bob's miraculous return after 22 years isn't limited to animation. After all this time, he's back in plastic form as well, ready to take on enemies of all shapes and sizes and, well, rebuild the galaxy one brick at a time.

Tying into Rebuild the Galaxy, Lego has released two sets. First is set 75389, the Dark Falcon, featuring minifigures of Darth Rey, Darth Jar Jar, Jedi Darth Vader, beach Luke Skywalker, Darth Dev, and bounty hunter C-3PO. The other is 75388, Jedi Bob's Starfighter. As the name implies, this is Bob's personal ship, so it comes with an updated version of him, in addition to a Mon Calamari Imperial stormtrooper, also known simply as an Ackbar Trooper, and the droid SR-VO, or SERVO. For just $39.99, you can commemorate the return of a Lego Star Wars legend and get him in minifigure form if you're not keen on?? paying aftermarket prices for the original.

At long last, Jedi Bob will return to the forefront of the Star Wars galaxy on September 13, when all four episodes of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy arrive exclusively on Disney+.

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I'm of the unwavering opinion that Lego and Star Wars go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Lego's vast library of Star Wars-themed sets contains some of the finest sets ever molded, and there ar??e hundreds of them out there for fans of both brands to en?joy.

Building Legos can be an expensive hobby, and Star Wars Lego sets tend to be a bit pricier than other licensed Lego sets. But once you've put them together, these sets will make incredible room decorations, and they may even become valuable collector's items if Lego ever decides to stop selling them.

Sadly, several sets on this list were pulled off the production line years ago, but that doesn't mean you can't get your hands on them. The prices tagged onto each set are those listed on the official Lego website, but you should b??e able to find most of the retired sets on Amazon, eBay, and any other websites that peddle Legos.

10. Luke Skywalker's X-Wing

Price: $49.99 USD

Pieces: 474

If you're new to Lego Star Wars, I'd recommend starting with Luke Skywalker's X-Wing. The son of Anakin Skywalker's starfighter doesn't have too many extra accessories, and its folding wings make it easy to pick up, a trait few Lego possess. If you're looking for a low-stress build or don't have much room left on your Lego shelf, I'd recommend this one.

9. Dark Troopers Attack

Price: $34.99 USD

Pieces: 166

Few scenes in Star Wars are more memorable than Luke Skywalker's surprise appearance in the finale of The Madnalorian Season 2. Lego's take on Luke's heroic one-Jedi stand against the D???ark Troopers is a quick-and-easy build with a few unique figures and set pieces, including a revolving door and a retractable track that mo??ve the Dark Troopers backward and forward.

8. Darth Vader's Helmet

Price: $99.99 USD

Pieces: 833

Darth Vader's helmet is the ultimate symbol of the Sith, and this Lego set allows you to build a 20-centimeter replica of the man once known as Anakin Skywalker's iconic helm. This set recaptures many of the small details of Darth Vader's Helmet, and it's the perfect ??decoration for any admirer of the Dark?? Side.

7. Ewok Village

Price: $469.99 USD

Pieces: 1,990

If you want to recreate Return of the Jedi's action-packed Battle of Endor, The Ewok Village is the set for you. This surprisingly expansive set comes with a few Ewok treehouses, a flexible rope bridge, a Speeder Bike, and a surprising number of Minifigs, including Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Ewoks, a few rebel soldiers, and Imperial Sco?utroopers.

6. Jabba's Sail Barge (2006)

Price: Retired

Pieces: 3,942

I do not recommend taking Lego sets outside, but I'd be lying if I said Jabba's Sail Barge wouldn't look good in a sandbox. On top of Minifigs Jabba, Leia, Luke, and Lando in his guard outfit, this set comes with a 46-centimeter build of the Sail Barge, an accompanying Sand Skiff, and the?? Sarl??acc itself.

5. Betrayal at Cloud City

Price: Retired

Pieces: 2,812

Cloud City is one of the most beautiful locals in the Star Wars galaxy, and the Betrayal at Cloud City set?? features all of its most iconic set pieces. The carbon freezing chamber, the room where a platoon of Stormtroopers blow C-3PO to bits, and the walkway where Darth Vader revealed his true identity to Luke are all in this se??t, as are Minifigures of almost the entire core cast of the Original Trilogy. Search your feelings; you know this is a fantastic set.

4. AT-AT

Price: $849.99

Pieces: 6,785

If you're looking for a Lego Star Wars set that will look good sitting on a shelf and withstand a bit of playtime on the carpet, you won't find much better than the Imperial Walker, aka the AT-AT. Alongside a ??Walker with fully posable legs, you get a platoon of Stormtroopers, a turret, and a lightsabe?r-equipped Luke Skywalker.

3. Mos Eisley Cantina

Price: $399.99

Pieces: 3,187

Han shot first. Now that that’s all squared away, the Mos Eisley Cantina set may seem massive at first glance, but you can fold its main building into a more compact form that makes it easy to pick up, display, or stow away. The can??????????????????????????tina has a fully stocked bar, booths, and a veritable horde of Minifigures.

2. Death Star

Price: $499.99

Pieces: 4,016

The Death Star might be a terrible weapon of galactic destruction, but it's hard to deny that it makes for a great Lego set. Every room in The Death Star set is crammed full of details that Star Wars fans will love, ??an??d the sheer number of Minifigures included with the set means that you'll be able to recreate every scene that played out inside the Galactic Empire's greatest achievement.

1. Imperial Star Destroyer

Price: $599.99

Pieces: 4,784

The Imperial Star Destroyer is one of the first ships that Star Wars fans ever saw, and its Lego variant is almost as impressive as its cinematic counterpart. The Imperial Star Destroyer set has a lot of great things going for it, but I'm fondest of the tiny Tantive IV that you can hang underneath it to recreate the opening of A New Hope.

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There are countless LEGO sets available to purchase and, if you’re trying to keep to a certain budget, things can get a little complicated. With sets costing hundreds of dollars, it’s not always easy to find an affordable LEGO set to gift or hoard. 

However, as a collector with a child who is also turning into something of a LEGO fan, I’ve had to get thrifty, and I’ve become pretty good at finding LEGO sets on the cheaper side. On this list, I’ve included something for all taste?s and the best part? None of these sets sell for more than $50 USD.

Bonsai Tree

Price: $49.99 USD

The Bonsai Tree LEGO set allows you to create not just one tree, but two. W??ell, almost. You can build one trunk and then have the choice between greenery or Cherry Blossoms to complete the look. I love this set and have it in my bedr??oom, changing the leaves depending on the season.

Venomized Groot (Marvel)

Price: $49.99 USD

I can’t be the only person whose favorite character from the Marvel universe is Groot, and this set combines hi?m with another favorite - Venom. You can build this set to be either half-venomized or completely venomized?, allowing for some customization and variety if you decide to deconstruct and build the set again. 

Dobby the House Elf (Harry Potter)

Price: $34.99 USD

One for the Harry Potter fans, Dobby the House Elf doesn’t come alone. You also get a LEGO version of Tom Riddle’s Diary from The Chamber of Secrets, complete with soggy sock, and the cake which results in bars being put on Harry’s window. Dobby’s giant green eyes and happy smile are just too?? cute.

Everyone is Awesome

Price: $34.99 USD

The Everyone is Awesome set is definitely a display piece, with its rainbow backing and solid color minifigs. Designed by Matthew Aston, it’s a celebration of inclusivity, positivity and kindness. Even if it’s not designed to be played with, this one’s still a pretty cool set to have. Bonus points if you can avoid getting the song stuck i??n your head.

Dinosaur Fossils: T. Rex Skull (Jurassic World)

Price: $39.99 USD

Even if you’re not that much of a fan of the Jurassic World franchise (though I’m unsure how you couldn’t be, at least when it comes to the original movie), this set looks really nice sitting on a shelf. You get both the T. Rex footprint and foss?ilized skull to display, as well as a small plaque relaying details about real-life T. Rex. 

Isabelle’s House Visit (Animal Crossing)

Price: $39.99 USD

Part of the fairly recent inclusion of Animal Crossing as a LEGO collection, Isabelle’s House Visit includes not only the house and surrounding greenery, but also a floating present and two minifigs - Isabelle and Fauna - which complete the scene. The set has only 389 pi?eces, so it's one children can help with and enjoy dismantling just to put it back?? together again.

Orchid

Price: $49.99 USD

My fiancé purchased the Orchid set for me as a gift and we built it together, so I may be a little biased here, but I cannot overstate how good value this set is. It’s actually pretty big, standing at 15 inches tall, so it’s replaced the real plant on my dining table. I can attest that, as someone who is terrible at keeping houseplants alive, LEGO flowers are an excellent alternative!

Escape from the Lost Tomb (Indiana Jones)

Price: $39.99 USD

If you’re a fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, or Egyptian iconology, or just LEGO in general and hankering to build something, the Escape from the Lost Tomb set is good value?? for money. It has 600 pieces and, when built, has interactive parts which make it good for both kids and adults. 

Spider Tank (Star Wars)

Price: $49.99 USD

This mechanical spider from the Mandalorian comes with three minifigs: The Mandalorian himself, Grogu, and Bo-Katan Kryze. The Spider Tank itself has a shooting f?unction, designed to fling tiny bits of LEGO across the living room for you to find hours later once the kids are in bed, so I’d argue that this one should be kept out of small kids, lest your feet feel?? the force of the LEGO step.

The Sword Outpost (Minecraft)

Price: $44.99 USD

I have to admit, my first thought when the Minecraft collection of LEGO was announced was, “What took them so long?� I mean, it’s a world built entirely from blocks so it just makes sense to make things from the game out of LEGO. Well, this is one of the sets now a??vailable from the Minecraft LEGO collection, including an oversize??d version of a Diamond Sword and multiple minifigs, like the adorably blocky pig.

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You've survived starvation, wolves, those rolling rock monsters, and so much more to build your perfect village in Lego Fortnite. It sure would be a shame if an evil empire rol??led up and started blasting. Luckily for you, a rebel fleet is ready to back you up against the dark ?side of The Force.

A new Star Wars update is launching for Fortnite on May 3, and with it comes a massive expansion to Lego Fortnite. We'll investigate the crash site of an Empire vessel after it rifts into our Lego Fortnite world. There's a ramshackle rebel village that we'll help build into a Level 10. From there, we can launch assaults on Empire encampments throughout the island. All of this looks to be adding a much more focused narrative hook to the otherwise free-reign of Lego Fortnite.

This event will also include the addition of a Lego Pass. With a free track and paid track, you can unlock various structures and items by completing quests. Purchasing the premium track for 1400 V-Bucks immediately gets you Chewbacca skins for Lego Fortnite and Battle Royale. At the end of each track is a large construction unlock. For the free path, you get the Mos Eisley Marketplace. The paid path gets you the Dusty Durrr Burger Build. It combines the Star Wars aesthetic and a Fortnite classic.

Along with all the Star Wars excitement, this update also comes with a lot more Fortnite skins getting a proper Lego version. 90 skins will have new models, inclu??din??g Darth Vader, Krrsantan, and The Mandalorian.

Forget all the Star Wars; the biggest feature of this update is that you'll finally be able to view Lego Fortnite Quests without having to ?return to the Lobby. Thank the Force for that one.

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Ranking the next generation of buttkickers

[Warning: This article contains end-game spoilers for multiple new titles. You have been warned!]

We're at the stage with a lot of modern action franchises where their original leads, (and their audiences), are old enough to be parents and grandparents. Their creators are often in the same boat, leading them to think a lot about how to pass their legacies off to the next generation. That's part of why we saw Ellie take the lead from Joel in The Last of Us Part II, Indiana Jones team up with his kid Mutt in The Crystal Skull (and maybe yet another kid in the upcoming Dial of Destiny?), Rick's daughter Judith become the co-lead of The Walking Dead in its last season, Dante hand-off leading man duties to newcomer Nero in Devil May Cry V, and so on.

Thes??e sorts of "passing the torch" milestones are a natural part of life, even when those lives? are purely fictional.

It's hard to say if and when these "passing the torch"?? moments will stick. We certainly haven't seen much from James Bond Jr. or Rodimus Prime in a while. But in 2022, there were more than a few games where the next generation of action hero took the lead in an effective way. Here are my top five for the year.

Remember, spoilers are present for almost every ga??me on this list!

#5: Gotham Knights

When playing a Batman game where you face off against supervillains, the challenge and excitement are baked into the premise. On the other hand, using the world's g??reatest detective and martial artist to fight a common human criminal can be a little anticlimactic. In order for a game to really make you feel like you are Batman, he's going to have to be overpowered, leading to initial thrills, but at the risk of longer-term malaise. There's no question at this point who would win in a fight between the dark knight and 5-10 random goons.

By making Batgirl and all three generations of Robin the leads of Gotham Knights, the initial tension factor is immediately turned up a notch. And personally, I've ?always found it more impressive (if not a touch less realistic) to see a kid like Damien Wayne beat the crap out 10 musclebound henchmen at a time than to watch his Dad do the same thi??ng.

Gotham Knights lets you do just that, and while the game is definitely better in theory than it is in practice, ??it's still worth a mention on this list. Let's hope that the next time we see the caped crusaders' sidekicks take the l??ead they get to star in a title with a little more punch.

#4 No More Heroes 3

This one is a bit of a cheat, as the game originally released on Switch in 2021, but it didn't make it to PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox until this year, so it was new to a lot of people in 2022. It's also a game that will always feel new to me. It's so packed with eye-opening moments, at least for long-time fans. The beheadings, the sudden rap battle, the surprise Smash Bros. mode, and the list of?? curveballs the game throws at you is down??right diabolical.

And they saved the biggest twist for last. In the post-credits scen?e, Travis Touchdown's son Hunter and daughter Jeanne suddenly appear. They immediately slice up an alien God and announce that they've come from the future to recruit Travis and his grandson Scott to help them kill the past. It's a real cliffhanger! [End Spoilers]

It's also the right direction for the series to head down. In his first appearance in 2007, Travis Touchdown was a spot-on tribute/parody of a ??certain kind of videogame enthusiast. Now 15 years later, it makes perfect sense for his descendants to be picking up where he left off, symbolizing? today's modern V-tubers and Twitch streamers and whatnot.

It's such a fun idea that I would have ranked it #1 if it weren't for the fact that the No More Heroes series is on indefinite hold, and there's no guarantee that a game costarring ??Travis's offspring will ever get made. Fingers crossed they'll at least show up in a badminton game someday.

#3 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

If we've learned anything from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, it's that people ultimately didn't really want to see the continuation of the Skywalker storyline. When Episode 9 revealed that Rey was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, effectively untwisting a plot twist from Episode 8, the fandom collectivel?y groaned in unison, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in disappointment and were suddenly disinterested.

Since then, almost all the most popular Star Wars content to be released has barely involved the Skywalkers. Grogu, the wildly popular "baby Yoda" who is actually not related to Yoda at all, is the perfect emblem of what people want from Star Wars today. They still want it to look and feel like old Star Wars, but only on the surface. Under the skin, they?? want the new leads of the franchise to be their own people.

Ironically enough, that's what the latest LEGO Star Wars game manages to pull off. With an expanded combat system and a more fully cohesive retelling of nine movies' worth of narrative, it's the perfect blueprint for what the future of LEGO Star Wars should look like. I'd also argue that the stories of the sequel trilogy work best here, as playin??g through them in the context of the other six movies, all wrapped together with a cohesive LEGO look, does a lot to make them feel like they belong together.

The option to pick up Grogu as DLC doesn't hurt?? either.

#2 Bayonetta 3

The future of the Bayonetta s?eries has never been less predictable, with a suddenly announced prequel set for release in a few months, and plans for a numbered sequel to the main franchise totally up in the air. That said, Platinum games has made it clear that they want to push the franchise's story forward, and when they do, they intend to have a new lead in the role of Bayonetta.

From the very start, Bayonetta 3 defies expectations around who exactly you'll be playing as. From the very ?start, we're given reason to believe that the old Bayonetta from the first game may be dead, and the one we play as for the bulk of the game is a more youthful, pigtailed multiverse version of the character. Later on, it's strongly hinted that this new witch is actually the child Cereza that Bayonetta met via time travel in her first game. And if that weren't enough "passing of the torch" for you, this new Bayo is later dragged to hell, leaving Viola, her daughter from another multiverse, to take on the Bayonetta mantle.

This new potential star of the series is everything the original Bayonetta wasn't. Where "classic" Bayo is a graceful femme who frequently pole dances nude to Frank Sinatra songs, her replacement is a bumbling, butch punk rocker who's big on physical comedy and unrevealing plaid pants. She's actually a lot like Travis Touchdown from No More Heroes, which is probably a turn-off for some Bayo fans, but I personally can't wait to see her take the lead in Bayonetta 4 someday.

#1 God of War: Ragnarok

Full disclosure, I don't like these games at all, but I can still appreciate how masterfully they've established Kratos as one of gaming's best "anti-heroes-turned-grumble-Daddies" ?(Dadnti-heroes?) If you grew up with a grizzled, grumpy Pappa who lost h??is soul to trauma, a constant state of fight or flight, and life-crushing responsibilities, chances are modern Kratos will remind you at least a little of your own Father.

But to be a real successful sire to an offspring, you have to let your kid become the star of their own story. With God of War: Ragnarok, Kratos finally do?es just that, allowing his son Atreus to be fully playable (at times). Much of the game's story also centers around the boy. The thrust of the whole adventure comes from the revelation that Kratos's son is actually the shape-changing Norse God Loki. That's a lot of responsibility f?or a home-schooled teen, and the choices between staying true to his Dad and finding his place in the greater Norse mythology brings consistent relatable tension to the father-son dynamic. [End Spoilers].

It's been prophesized for a long time that Kratos will eventually kick the bucket, though his enduring popularity would make that a tough pill to swallow for both GoW fans and franchise owners, who are both enjoying a record level of popularity for the series. That said, if and when Kratos does finally breathe his last baritone, bearded breath, God of War: Ragnarok has shown u??s that there are plenty of places for the series to g?o without him.

The post The Top 5 “Passing the Torch” action games of 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

When bricking your console is a good thing

Xbox is also getting into the May The Fourth spirit today with their own Star Wars promotion. Microsoft is hosting a sweepstakes giveaway to hand out 12 consoles, featuring 12 iconic Star Wars characters in Lego form.

The collaboration between Xbox and the Lego Group sees 12 Xbox Series S consoles come together, with art inspired by TT Games' recent Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. They include custom designs for both the Xbox Series S and co??rresponding controller.

The twelve consoles feature BB-8, Boba Fett, ??Chewbacca, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Finn, ?Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Rey, Yoda, and a Stormtrooper.

//twitter.com/Xbox/status/1521878130977243137

To enter, you'll ?need to follow the Xbox account. Then just retweet the tweet above with the hashtags #LegoStarWarsXboxSweepstakes and #Maythe4th for a chance to win.

These are not the Xboxes you're looking for

The designs are pretty sweet, especi?ally on the Xbox Series S. I'm not even a huge Boba Fett fan, but his c?olors on that Series S look rad.

Star Wars festivities are continuing around the gaming sphere, as TT Games itself released some new DLC today for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. One pack, from The Mandalorian Season 2, features Clone Wars hero Ahsoka Tano and the aforementioned bounty hunter Boba Fett. The other pack contains The Bad Batch, a series I'm admittedly less familiar with. Sadly, Ahsoka didn't get her own custom Lego Star Wars Xbox Series S this time around.

Plenty of other Star Wars games are in the works, too. Electronic Arts and Respawn have got a bundle of new projects on the way, Quantic Dream is working on Eclipse, and longtime Star Wars remaster and port studio Aspyr is putting together a Knights of the Old Republic remake. Even if you don't manage to snag a special Lego Star Wars Xbox, there's still plenty of Star Wars on the way.

The post Xbox is giving awa??y special Lego Star Wars consoles to celebrate May 4th appeared first on Destructoid.

Ahsoka Tano shows up, in Lego form

It is May 4, the designated day for all things Star Wars. And on this May The Fourth, Warner Bros. Games and TT Games are releasing two new DLC packs for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

As part of the day's festivities, the new Lego Star Wars DLC brings characters from The Mandalorian Season 2 and The Bad Batch into the Lego universe. They're arriving on all platforms today and are available for purchase separately,? or included if you bought the Character Collection Pac??k.

Who made the cut? Well, on The Mandalorian side of things, it's Clone Wars favorite Ahsoka Tano and Sarlacc favorite Boba Fett. The Mando pack ??also includ??es Bo Katan, Fennec Shand, and Moff Gideon.

For The Bad Batch, that charac?ter pack will net you Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and Echo.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGm3u4OemM

These two packs join a long lineup of DLC character packs for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The DLC lineup has already added a bunch of extra Star Wars characters from outside the realm of the three trilogies, including familiar faces from Rogue One, The Mandalorian Season 1, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

A galaxy bricks, bricks away

It's a fun way to celebrate the expanded universe of Star Wars on the essentially official day of Star Wars. It's not a bank holiday or anything, but this is the day when everything Star Wars coalesces.

Most of the announcements thus far this morning have been cool cameos like this, or giveaways of custom Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Xbox consoles. A new trailer for the Obi-Wan show also dropped, if that's of interest to you.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yh_6_zItPU

For me? Well, I'm still eyeing the Lego Star Wars: Skywalker Saga prospect. As someone who's been a bit burned out on the series since the, uh, less-than-stellar Episode IX, TT Games seems to have injected new life into its series and Star Wars at the same time. It's funny, charming, a little bit more expansive than previous games, and has surprisingly cool combos.

The post Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga gets a few DLC?? packs for May 4th appeared first on Destructoid.