The Star Wars franchise has become the pinnacle of cross-medium storytelling. Before, its Legends stories provided a loose timeline of events that didn't happen in the films. Now, the franchise follows a strict canon that can be found in films, shows, comics and video games. Star Wars games are a cornerstone of gaming and the franchise due to their deep and engaging lore. However, there are rarely ever any villain-centric titles.
Few Star Wars games have provided the antagonist's side of the story. The titles that have come closest include Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Battlefront II and Squadrons. However, each of those either involves the villain becoming the hero or has another half of the story following the good guys. There are next to no games that focus on a truly villainous character, which means that so much lore is being left unexplored.
There are many villainous factions in the world of Star Wars. Aside from organizations like the Empire or the First Order, there are also the Sith. One game that did delve into Sith lore was the VR exclusive, Vader Immortal. However, even this game suffered because players couldn't even play as the legendary Sith. Considering they are one of the oldest religions in Star Wars, it's surprising there has never been a game that focuses on one's journey to the Dark Side.
Characters like Darth Maul offer a great outlet to explore the Dark Side in video game form. While his early adult life and later years are covered in films and TV, there are still many unexplored years worth of stories featuring the shunned Sith Lord. Taking beats from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order would help create a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience. The story could also dig deeper into what it means to be a Sith and why Maul desires so much power.
A Sith based game could also be a great outlet to explore the culture of the Dark Side. The closest fans have ever gotten is the Sith path in The Old Republic game. However, as those aren't canon, it's hard to compare to the later films and shows. A canon adventure with a dark lord would help players understand the allure of the Dark Side and the power that is felt when fighting or using the Force. However, this is just one aspect of evil in Star Wars, and doesn't even begin to explore the galaxy's non-Force-using antagonists.
While the most recent movies haven't been as well-received as their predecessors, the Sequel Trilogy still deserves to be fleshed out. The rise of the First Order raises many questions, and the best ways to get to the point would be through a video game set just before this. A third-person action-adventure title that follows a young Kylo Ren could chronicle how the radical members of what was left of the Empire banded together to create an even more deadly force. There is no denying that the Sequel Era deserves more exploration, and a game focused on its villains would be the best solution.
Beyond that, there are still many eras of Star Wars and even more sources of inspiration that could bring the franchise's darker side to life in games. As the games become a large part of the canon, now is the best time to capitalize on Star Wars' villains, from Sith Lords to the Empire. There are corners of history that would make for fantastic games, and developers should capitalize on that.
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