Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is a lot of fun, and it’s forcing me to become a better gamer

Welcome to our column! As part of this series, Tom's Guide staff members share their current gaming indulgences, with the aim of introducing you to some fantastic games that may not be on your radar. We discussed Bannerlords in a previous post, but today I'm focusing on Star Wars Jedi Survivor, thanks to some recently available discounts. Usually, with newly released games charging up to $70, purchasing one close to launch doesn't happen very frequently for me. However, I've managed to delve into Star Wars Jedi Survivor a bit earlier than anticipated.

In this sequel, you play as the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, twelve years before Episodes 4. It takes place five years after the events of the preceding game and sees Kestis actively participating in the rebellion against the Empire. He is alone this time, having gradually lost his crew, leaving only his indispensable companion, the adorable BD-1.

With the Disney takeover, Star Wars video games have been on a downslide, although the games that did get released boast high-quality gameplay. Among them, Fallen Order stands out as the best non-Lego Star Wars game. The game's captivating campaign, the lack of usual money-centric tactics from EA, and the intriguing timeline set it apart. Jedi Survivor seems to be maintaining this legacy, despite my personal struggles with the game's combat system.

The current combat in Jedi Survivor differs from its predecessor, Jedi Fallen Order, and offers new ways to engage in battles. You can now use a blaster or stick with lightsaber skills, offering different strategies during combat. Although limited, the game offers a ranged attack option through the blaster without depleting your force energy.

As I advance in the game, it seems evident that there's a lot more to explore in terms of story and gameplay. With my focus on enhancing my health and force meters to give me an edge during combat, my combat skills are a bit underdeveloped. Improving those will undoubtedly require me to invest more skill points, but the skill progression appears to be slower this time around. Notwithstanding, I am gradually learning new tricks and am not defeated as often.

While Jedi Survivor's storyline is engaging, it can be somewhat tiresome to have yet another game set in the Empire era, between Episodes 3 and 4. This timeframe has been extensively covered through various Star Wars mediums in the past decade. What we need going forward is a wider timeframe for Star Wars games. The best Star Wars game ever, set millennia before the Prequels, is proof of this need.

In conclusion, Disney, it's time to diversify the Star Wars games repertoire. Although we're excited about the upcoming Quantic Dream’s Star Wars: Eclipse set in the High Republic, we urge you to ensure its single-player mode is more akin to Jedi Survivor than Battlefront II.