The Star Wars franchise has had a very long history in the video game landscape, making its virtual debut all the way back in 1982 with Empire Strikes Back for the Atari 2600. In the 43 years since, Star Wars has released well over 100 games, and it's experimented with a ton of different genres. Many of these genres have been reprised over the decades, but an unlucky few have only had one or two experimental entries. The fighting genre is one of those unlucky few.
There have been a plethora of Star Wars first-person shooters, a ton of action-adventure games, and a surprising number of flight sims, but there's only ever been one fully-fledged Star Wars fighting game. Released in 1997 for the PlayStation, Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi is a 3D fighting game that received infamously poor reviews upon its release, with its clunky controls, uninspired movesets, and wildly unbalanced roster all being key points of criticism. But it's about time Star Wars righted that 28-year-old wrong.
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It's Time for a New Star Wars Fighting Game
Fighting Games Are More Popular Than Ever
The video game industry is currently in the middle of a new golden age for fighting games, with the last few years delivering some of the biggest and best entries the genre has ever seen. In the span of less than a year, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken all received new installments, and at least two of those new installments are generally believed to have set new bars for their respective franchises.
That high level of quality has been rewarded with equally high sales. By February 2025, Street Fighter 6 had sold 4.4 million copies, Mortal Kombat 1 hit 5 million, and Tekken 8 (which released months after the other two) had shipped 3 million. Though these numbers aren't as high as the likes of Sony's first-party line-up, they're very good for the fighting genre.
It's clear that there's an even bigger market than ever for fighting games, so much so that it's even sparking the Fatal Fury series to return after a 26-year-long hiatus. It might be time for Star Wars to hop on the bandwagon.
Star Wars Would Suit a Range of Different Fighting Game Types
The Star Wars universe is packed to the brim with iconic characters, many of whom would make great fighters in a Star Wars fighting game. One possible Star Wars fighting game concept could see players face off in a one-on-one duel, taking the form of a holo-training match between some of the most renowned Jedi and Sith in the galaxy.
This 1v1 Star Wars fighting game could feature similar mechanics to titles like Die by the Blade and Hellish Quart, where one successful slash of a lightsaber blade could mean sudden death. As such, its mechanics could revolve around parrying oncoming attacks, dodging large swings, and seizing brief moments of opportunity, thus giving fans a more intense Star Wars fighting game experience.
Alternatively, a Star Wars fighting game could take a more casual, lighthearted approach, and follow in the footsteps of platform-fighters like Super Smash Bros. And Brawlhalla, the latter of which already features a few Star Wars heroes.
