With the release of Star Wars Outlaws, the Star Wars franchise has finally embraced the open-world genre. While previous titles have let players explore planets across the galaxy, Star Wars Outlaws delivered something that they had never really seen before. It may not have been a massive success, but that blend made for a highly distinct experience. Even though there is a ton of potential for another massive open-world in the Star Wars galaxy, the next attempt may want to scale things down a bit.
One of the big draws of the Star Wars franchise may be its massive, diverse galaxy, but that does not mean an open-world Star Wars game needs to give players free rein over that galaxy. On the contrary, the next attempt at the genre could actually focus the adventure on one singular planet. Not only would that let the studio focus on the story and gameplay more, but it could also be a fantastic way for fans to see everything that fan-favorite Star Wars planets like Coruscant or Tatooine have to offer.
An Unlikely Star Wars Outlaws Sequel Would Have a Strange Cross to Bear
Though it doesn't seem as if Star Wars Outlaws will be getting a follow-up, if it does, it would have to reckon with one major issue.
Star Wars Outlaws Has Blazed the Trail For a Different Kind of Open-World Game
Star Wars Games Don't Need to Feature the Entire Galaxy
Ever since the Star Wars franchise first began, fans have been whisked away on these massive adventures across countless exciting planets. They have gotten to see the deserts of Tatooine, watch the turbulent streets of Coruscant, experience the vast jungles of Endor or Naboo, and have recently even explored planets outside the galaxy through Ahsoka. Almost every Star Wars project introduces new planets brimming with life, all of which has made for a vast and exciting universe that shows no signs of slowing down.
That includes the video games. In Star Wars Outlaws, players were finally given free rein to explore some of these planets, and while that too made for an interesting adventure, nothing says that Star Wars always has to follow this template. Instead, it may be time for a more condensed, focused kind of Star Wars game.
A Smaller-Scale Star Wars Game May Be Exactly What the Series Needs
The next open-world Star Wars game should consider focusing the entire experience on one singular planet. Build out the factions that reside there, focus the story on whatever conflict the planet is facing, and construct the entire adventure around the theme of that world. Players could explore every inch of Tatooine, they could live out their days on Coruscant, or they could even go to a completely new original planet. As long as the story maintains the heart and charm of Star Wars, a planet-focused game could be just as rich as a game that spans the galaxy.
Of course, scaling down a Star Wars story to just one planet would likely have its drawbacks. For one, fans have gotten so used to the galactic stories that this new approach may feel out of place. Because of that, it would also mean that players would not experience the diversity of settings that the franchise has been known for. So, unless said world has countless biomes to explore, players may just have to get used to seeing endless deserts, jungles, or winding city streets.
That being said, if done well, this adventure could lead to a wonderful new Star Wars title. Not every story needs to span the entire galaxy, and telling a more focused story may be exactly what the franchise needs right now. While Star Wars Outlaws showed promise, many found it to be lacking. If a studio could focus its efforts on building one setting and telling a smaller-scale story, then it could lead to a great title for fans. Plus, it could finally do some of these fan-favorite locales justice in the process.
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
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
