Star Wars’expansive setting and deep in-universe history allow virtually any kind of story to be told throughout the series' galaxy.KOTORtells a subversive, original tale that is not at all related to the movies, whileThe Force UnleashedandJedi: Fallen Orderfit in the gaps between the films. However, regardless of their differences, there’s a common thread many notableStar Warsgames share, and it’s one that feels a little frayed.
Despite boasting a wide-open galaxy filled with all manner of unique alien species, the games have overwhelmingly featured humans in starring roles. Aliens are often portrayed as supporting characters, villains, or even just set dressing to help liven up a location. A disproportionate focus on the familiar human race throughout decades of storytelling makes the universe feel much smaller than it should be, and with moreStar Warsgameson the way, it’d be refreshing to see the franchise address this issue.
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Star Wars Games: Too Many Humans
Humanity has a startlingly large presence inStar Wars.If one tries to name a memorable character from any movie, there’s a pretty good chance said character will be human; the same could be said for manyStar Warsgames. The duo of Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors that is featured so prominently in theJedi Knightseries of games is comprised of two humans, whileCal Kestis, the lead ofJedi: Fallen Order, is also a human. EvenJedi Academy’sJaden Korr, whose species can be customized at will, was retconned to be a human in stories released followingJedi Academy’srelease.
The overabundance of humans in theStar Warscanonhas been justified through in-universe explanations that there are more humans in the galaxy than any other species, and that humanity has a knack for colonization and settling in on new lands. While this may come across as a flimsy excuse to justify a majority-human cast, by looking at this explanation through a different, non-human lens, there’s a compelling case to be made for an alien-ledStar Warsgame.
Why More Aliens Should Be In Star Wars Games
A new game focusing on a particular species would likely open the door to new kinds of stories from fresh points of view. As stated before, humans are well known for being colonizers in theStar Warsuniverse; many aliens resent them for their willingness to claim whatever land they please as their own. It would be refreshing for a game to cover this topic of humans laying claim to extraterrestrial worlds through an alien perspective, as to cast humanity, who generally serve as theheroes inStar Warsmedia, in a different light.
Additionally, it goes without saying there’s a great deal of fascinating lore surrounding nearly everyStar Warsspecies out there, and being able to play as a non-human species would allow players to immerse themselves in the galaxy in a way that wasn’t quite possible before. And of course, there’s undoubtedly a surface-level appeal that accompanies the prospect of being able to play as a Zabrak, Twi’lek, or a brutish, loud-roaringWookiee like Chewbacca.
Given the grand scale ofStar Wars’galaxy, there’s any number of directions the upcoming games could go. In the interest of showcasing the diverse species that make up the galaxy and to help the galactic setting seem just a little larger, those handling the franchise going forward ought to consider focusing on some ofStar Wars’iconic alien species; the universe is simply too interesting not to.
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