Like all good Sci-Fi franchises, Star Wars has plenty of in-universe games and pastimes. Some of the most iconic recreational activities in the Star Wars universe are those seen in the movies, such as The Phantom Menace's Podracing, Attack of the Clones' macabre arena games, A New Hope's Dejarik, and Solo's Sabacc. And it's this last activity that plays a prominent role in Star Wars Outlaws.
First introduced all the way back in 1983 with the Legends novel Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu, Sabacc is essentially the Star Wars universe's poker, requiring players to bluff and scheme their way to a winning hand. Naturally, this makes Sabacc one of the most popular games among the galaxy's scoundrels and lowlifes, which makes it the perfect minigame for Star Wars Outlaws. While card games can often be a bit overcomplicated, Star Wars Outlaws' version of Sabacc manages to find a strong balance between accessible and engaging.
Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc Strikes The Perfect Balance
Star Wars Outlaws Features a Streamlined Version of Sabacc
Just like poker, there are several different variations of Sabacc played across the Star Wars galaxy. The type of Sabacc players will encounter in Star Wars Outlaws is called Kessel Sabacc, named after the infamous spice mines. This version of Sabacc sees players holding two cards in their hand. One card belongs to the Sand suit, while the other belongs to the Blood suit. Both cards have a number value on them. At the end of a round of Kessel Sabacc, these cards' numbers are subtracted from one another. For example, holding a card with a value of 3 and a card with a value of 2 would result in the player getting a score of 1.
The general goal of Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc is to be left with a card value as close to 0 as possible. For each of Kessel Sabacc's three turns, players can choose to stick with their hand or draw a card from the discard, Sand, or Blood decks in an attempt to get a pair that will offer the lowest value possible when the two cards are subtracted from one another.
Though it seems complicated when written down, Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc is actually very accessible, and players will probably manage to pick it up after playng just a round or two. As alluded to earlier, Star Wars Outlaws' version of Sabacc is a streamlined version of the card game. The traditional form of Sabacc has players trying to aim for a score of 23 as opposed to 0 and includes four different suits. This more streamlined version still gives fans a hint of the usual canon form of Sabacc while making the game fun and simple for general audiences.
Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc Can Get More Complex
But while Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc may be a more streamlined version, that's not to say it can't get a bit more complex for those who want the increased challenge and room for strategy. Kessel Sabacc introduces Impostor cards that require the player to roll some dice to determine its value, and Sylop cards that automatically gain the value of the other card in the player's hand. Shift tokens also play a major role in the more challenging Sabacc matches in Star Wars Outlaws, with them granting players a special ability at the start of each round.
Star Wars Outlaws
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Engine
- Snowdrop
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
