| Star Wars Outlaws | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world game that offers the ultimate scoundrel’s adventure. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Star Wars Outlaws Review Overview
What is Star Wars Outlaws?
Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure played from a third-person perspective, offering a rich blend of combat, exploration, and spacefaring mechanics. On the ground, players will engage in hand-to-hand combat, gunplay, and stealth sequences, utilizing Kay Vess's skills to outmaneuver and outfight enemies. Her companion, Nix, plays a crucial role by distracting enemies, retrieving items, and activating controls, enhancing the tactical depth of encounters. Combat extends to space aboard Kay's ship, The Trailblazer, where players will participate in larger-scale battles against massive vessels, promising a thrilling experience in the vast expanse of space.
Star Wars Outlaws features:
⚫︎ Dynamic Reputation System
⚫︎ Seamless Space Exploration
⚫︎ Companion Mechanics
⚫︎ Extensive Customization
⚫︎ Fast Travel
⚫︎ Massive Open-World
⚫︎ Upgradeable Abilities
⚫︎ Diverse Culinary Experiences
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Star Wars Outlaws's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ubisoft |
 Epic |
 PlayStation |
 Xbox |
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| Price | $69.99 | ||||||
| Physical Retailers | |
|---|---|
 Amazon |
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| Price | $69.99 |
Star Wars Outlaws Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Choice-Based Aspects Detailed Journal Comprehensive Map Different In-Game Collectibles Accurate Star Wars Lens |
Main Missions Follow The Same Formula Audio and Visual Cues Sometimes Get Stuck |
Star Wars Outlaws Overall Score - 90/100
Star Wars Outlaws is an exceptional game that does justice to the Star Wars franchise. From its gripping story that intertwines Kay’s quest for freedom with a broader galactic conflict, to its immersive gameplay that lets you live the life of a scoundrel, the game excels in almost every area. The visuals bring the vast galaxy to life, while the audio keeps you on edge, whether you're in a heated battle or sneaking through enemy lines. Although the game demands a premium price, its depth and attention to detail make it well worth the investment. Whether you're a hardcore fan or a newcomer, Star Wars Outlaws is a must-play adventure that will leave you craving more of its rich, expansive world.
Star Wars Outlaws Story - 9/10
The story in Star Wars Outlaws is a captivating journey through the underworld of the galaxy, following Kay’s journey about surviving the bounty on her head and securing enough credits to gain the ultimate freedom to live on her terms. The narrative is rich with intrigue, betrayal, and tough moral choices that keep you invested from start to finish. The character development is especially noteworthy, with Kay and ND-5’s relationship evolving in a way that feels authentic and earned. The game does an excellent job of making you care about the stakes, with each new mission revealing more about the complex world you’re navigating. The only reason it doesn’t score a perfect 10 is due to a few predictable plot points, but these are minor in the grand scheme of an otherwise outstanding story.
Star Wars Outlaws Gameplay - 9/10
Gameplay in Star Wars Outlaws is a thrilling ride that truly makes you feel like a scoundrel navigating a dangerous, complex galaxy. The mechanics of sneaking, stealing, engaging in combat, and platforming are finely tuned to create a sense of being constantly on the edge. While the game offers significant freedom in how you approach many situations, there are moments where this freedom is somewhat restricted, which can be a minor drawback. However, the overall experience remains compelling, with the core gameplay being both engaging and rewarding. The variety in mission types and the option to pursue side quests help mitigate any sense of repetition. The space exploration adds another layer of depth, allowing you to seamlessly transition from planet-side missions to dogfights in the stars, making the gameplay solid and providing plenty of moments where you feel like a true outlaw in the galaxy.
Star Wars Outlaws Visuals - 9/10
Visually, Star Wars Outlaws is stunning. The environments are richly detailed, from the bustling cities to the desolate wastelands, and everything in between. The game’s art direction perfectly captures the Star Wars aesthetic, making you feel like you’re stepping into a living, breathing part of the universe. The character models are equally impressive, with detailed animations that bring each figure to life. The only reason it doesn’t receive a perfect score is due to some minor technical glitches, such as camera issues and occasional visual stuttering. These are rare, but noticeable enough to keep the visuals from being flawless. Nonetheless, the game’s overall presentation is top-tier and a visual feast for any Star Wars fan.
Star Wars Outlaws Audio - 9/10
The audio in Star Wars Outlaws is as much a part of the experience as the gameplay or visuals. From the intense battle soundtracks that pump up the adrenaline during combat to the more subtle, heart-racing music that plays while sneaking around enemies, the audio perfectly complements the action on screen. The voice acting is superb, bringing each character to life with performances that add depth and personality to the dialogue. The sound effects, from blaster fire to the hum of spacecraft engines, are spot-on, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The game’s audio design is immersive and evocative, drawing you deeper into the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars Outlaws Value for Money - 9/10
At $69.99, Star Wars Outlaws comes with a steep price tag, even for open-world titles. However, the sheer amount of content, the level of detail in every aspect of the game, and the depth of the story and characters make it a worthwhile investment. The massive open world, combined with the detailed story, diverse missions, and abundant collectibles, ensures that you’ll get plenty of playtime for your purchase. Star Wars Outlaws offers a value that matches its price, providing hours of engaging gameplay that you’ll want to revisit time and again.
Star Wars Outlaws Review: A Galactic Adventure That’s Lightyears Ahead
Waking up in a galaxy where the Empire tightens its grip, while the Rebel Alliance wages a desperate fight, might sound like the setup for a classic tale of heroism. But for Kay Vess, the protagonist of Star Wars Outlaws, the grand battles between good and evil are just background noise. What matters most to her are credits and the freedom they promise. And from the moment you step into her shoes, you're thrust into a world where the line between scoundrel and survivor blurs in the best way possible.
From the start, Star Wars Outlaws pulls you into its rich, lived-in world. Cantonica, with its glitz and grime, serves as the perfect backdrop for your first foray into the life of a scoundrel. The attention to detail in the environment is staggering—every corner of the city seems to breathe with its own stories. As you place bets, gamble, and steal, Kay’s desperation becomes palpable. You’re not just playing a character; you’re living her struggles, making the need to escape Canto Bight feel as urgent to you as it does to her. It's a subtle but effective way of immersing you in the mindset of someone who’s been scraping by in the galaxy’s underbelly for far too long.
Then, a series of unfortunate events lands Kay on Toshara, a moon that serves as the game’s first playground. This is when Star Wars Outlaws starts to shine, with its vast open-world environment spanning both land and space. The first time I hopped onto a Speeder, I was struck by the sheer speed and freedom it offered. Of course, that also meant I crashed more times than I care to admit, but each mishap only added to the sense of thrill that came with navigating Toshara’s varied landscapes. The excitement doesn’t stop at the moon’s surface, either. Space exploration is an integral part of the game, allowing you to pilot the Trailblazer through the galaxies, jumping between planets like Kijimi, Tatooine, and Akiva and even The Empire’s space station. It’s a massive, open world that feels as expansive as the Star Wars universe itself.
But as exhilarating as the world of Star Wars Outlaws is, it’s not without its flaws. The core gameplay loop—explore, sneak, steal, fight, run—while engaging, can start to feel repetitive after a while. Many main quests follow a similar pattern: sneak into a location, steal something valuable, and then fight your way out. The first few times, it’s a blast. But after the fifth or sixth mission, I found myself wishing for a bit more variety. Why, I wondered, couldn’t I sneak out the same way I snuck in? The predictability of these encounters dampens the tension, and I couldn’t help but feel that the game missed an opportunity to let players truly embrace the role of a cunning scoundrel.
That said, the game does an excellent job of keeping you engaged with its sprawling world and myriad side quests. These side missions, categorized as intel, expert intel, key part intel, and contracts, add depth to the game and often intersect with the main story in interesting ways. For instance, needing a crucial part for the Trailblazer for the main quest might require you to first complete a side quest involving a mechanic. This integration of side quests into the main narrative gives the world a sense of interconnectedness that few games achieve.
The syndicates play a significant role in the game’s economy and story progression. Completing contracts for these factions not only rewards you with credits but also improves your reputation, unlocking new skins and gaining access to underground merchants. This reputation system adds an extra layer of strategy, especially since doing jobs for one faction can negatively affect your standing with another.
This is where my earlier complaint about the main quest design resurfaces. While the game mentions that anonymity can be crucial for an outlaw, it often forces you into situations where your cover is inevitably blown, affecting your reputation across the board. It’s a minor limitation in a game that otherwise makes you feel like a master of the galaxy’s underworld.
And just when you think you’ve made significant progress, you realize you’ve only just begun. After being saved joined by ND-5, Kay is tasked with scouring the galaxy, exploring the far reaches of space, and retrieving important personnel across three planets. For Kay, this mission is a no-brainer; she would stop at nothing to gain the freedom she craves, and the vastness of the galaxy only fuels her determination.
Exploring the cities in Star Wars Outlaws is a joy in itself. Each location feels distinct, with its own culture, cuisine, and atmosphere. I often found myself hunting for food carts just to see what the locals were eating, and buying food wasn’t just a frivolous activity—it had tangible benefits. Nix, Kay’s adorable Merqaal companion, gets his own plate on the ship whenever you try new foods, which grants Nix some passive skills that can aid you on your adventures. It’s small touches like these that make the world feel alive and rewarding to explore.
Speaking of skills, Star Wars Outlaws introduces a unique approach to character progression. Instead of relying on a traditional skill tree, the game encourages you to unlock new abilities by repeatedly using existing ones. This system not only adds a sense of realism but also ensures that you’re constantly improving in the areas that matter most to your playstyle. It’s a refreshing departure from the norm and one that keeps you invested in developing Kay’s skills throughout the game.
The characters in Star Wars Outlaws are another highlight, with each one feeling fully realized and integral to the story. Each character is given enough depth to make their actions understandable, if not excusable. Kay herself is a compelling protagonist, embodying the scoundrel archetype while also revealing vulnerabilities that make her relatable. She’s a bad liar and an even worse flirt, but that only adds to her charm.
ND-5 complements Kay’s impulsive nature perfectly. Just when Kay feels utterly alone in the vast galaxy, trusting no one but Nix, ND-5 enters the scene. He’s not one to trust easily either, but circumstances force them to work together. Their first encounter proves it—ND-5 arrives just when things seem most dire, showing that even the most independent scoundrel sometimes has to rely on someone else.
However, the real star of the show is Nix. This charming little Merqaal is more than just a pet—he’s Kay’s partner in crime. Whether he’s rummaging through the belongings of unsuspecting stormtroopers or voicing his complaints when missions go awry, Nix adds a layer of personality to the game that’s hard to resist. Nix might be small, but his impact on the game is anything but.
In conclusion, Star Wars Outlaws isn’t a game to rush through. It’s a title that rewards curiosity and a willingness to explore every nook and cranny. The galaxy is vast, and the characters you meet along the way have stories worth discovering. Take your time, dive deep into the world, and savor the experience.
Pros of Star Wars Outlaws
| Things Star Wars Outlaws Got Right |
|---|
|
Choice-Based Aspects Detailed Journal Comprehensive Map Different In-Game Collectibles Accurate Star Wars Lens |
Choice-Based Aspects
One of the standout features of Star Wars Outlaws is the importance of choice in shaping your journey. Key decisions impact various aspects of the game, from your relationships with syndicates to NPC interactions. For example, you might face a dilemma where you have to decide whether to double-cross your employer to stay in the good graces of one syndicate or maintain your loyalty at the cost of another. These choices add a layer of complexity and replayability to the game, making each playthrough unique and personal to your interpretation of Kay’s character.
Detailed Journal
The game’s journal system makes tracking your quests remarkably easy. Whether you're juggling multiple main missions, side quests, or contracts, the journal keeps everything organized and accessible. This feature ensures that you never lose track of your objectives, allowing you to focus on the adventure rather than getting bogged down by the logistics. It’s a simple yet effective tool that enhances the overall gameplay experience, making it easier to immerse yourself in the story without worrying about where to go next.
Comprehensive Map
Star Wars Outlaws features expansive maps that are not only fun to explore but also highly detailed. The ability to zoom in and out, from the smallest settlements to an entire planet, adds to the sense of scale and adventure. The compass is also intuitive and useful, guiding you without cluttering the screen. While exploring towns, you might find yourself wishing for a mini-map, but this is a minor drawback in an otherwise excellent navigation system. The map with the compass work to keep you oriented, ensuring that the vastness of the game world never feels overwhelming.
Different In-Game Collectibles
Star Wars Outlaws offers a rich variety of collectibles beyond the usual quest items. Nix's Treasures, Jet's Journal, and Holodramas are just a few examples. These collectibles don't just add depth to the lore; they also enhance the gameplay by encouraging exploration and discovery. For instance, uncovering Jet's Journal initiates a treasure hunt for items buried by Jet—a character whose significance becomes more apparent as you progress through the story. These treasures are more than just items; they serve as narrative threads that pull you deeper into the game's world, making each discovery feel rewarding and meaningful.
Accurate Star Wars Lens
It might seem redundant to emphasize this, but Star Wars Outlaws captures the essence of the Star Wars universe in a way that feels authentic and immersive. From the iconic font used in text to the intricate design of the environments, every detail is steeped in the Star Wars aesthetic. The game doesn't just borrow elements from the franchise; it lives and breathes them. Whether you're interacting with familiar species or navigating through planets like Tatooine, the game feels like an extension of the Star Wars universe, perfectly blending new content with the beloved atmosphere that fans expect.
Cons of Star Wars Outlaws
| Things That Star Wars Outlaws Can Improve |
|---|
|
Main Missions Follow The Same Formula Audio and Visual Cues Sometimes Get Stuck |
Main Missions Follow The Same Formula
While Star Wars Outlaws excels in many areas, it does fall into the trap of repetitive mission design. The main missions often follow a similar pattern—sneak, steal, and fight—which can become predictable over time. Although the game attempts to mitigate this by encouraging players to mix in side quests, the repetitive nature of the main quests can still feel taxing. Offering more freedom in how these missions play out could have alleviated this issue, providing a more varied and dynamic gameplay experience. The potential is there, but the execution leaves room for improvement.
Audio and Visual Cues Sometimes Get Stuck
In a game as polished as Star Wars Outlaws, even minor technical issues stand out. I encountered two instances where the audio and visual cues didn’t function as intended. The first occurred when the camera angle got stuck after dismounting from the speeder, locking the view below Kay. The second issue involved an NPC dialogue that failed to trigger any sound. These glitches are minor and easily resolved with a quick restart, but they’re worth mentioning, especially in a game of this caliber where smooth gameplay is expected.
Is Star Wars Outlaws Worth It?
The Force Is Strong With This One
If you’re a fan of the Star Wars universe and enjoy expansive open-world adventures, Star Wars Outlaws is a stellar experience that delivers on multiple fronts. With its richly detailed galaxy, immersive narrative, and thrilling gameplay mechanics, it brings the essence of being a scoundrel in a galaxy far, far away to life.
The game’s ability to balance exploration with engaging missions, combined with its dynamic characters and intricate lore, makes it a must-play for both longtime Star Wars aficionados and newcomers looking for a grand adventure. Its few flaws are overshadowed by the sheer joy of navigating its vast worlds and uncovering its secrets. In essence, Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t just meet expectations—it surpasses them, making it a worthy addition to any gaming collection.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft |
Epic |
PlayStation |
Xbox |
||||
| Price | $69.99 | ||||||
| Physical Retailers | |
|---|---|
| Amazon |
|
| Price | $69.99 |
Star Wars Outlaws FAQ
What Are The System Requirements for Star Wars Outlaws?
| PC Specs | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Setting | 1080P / 30 FPS / Low Preset | 1080P / 60 FPS / High Preset |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce FX 5600XT | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or Radeon RX 6700 XT |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5-10400 or Ryzen 5 5600X |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
| Storage | 65 GB SSD | 65 GB SSD |
When is Star Wars Outlaws in the Star Wars timeline?
Star Wars Outlaws is set between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the game itself is also considered canon.
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Star Wars Outlaws Product Information
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| Title | STAR WARS OUTLAWS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 30, 2024 |
| Developer | Massive Entertainment |
| Publisher | Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Genre | Open-World Action-Adventure |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | Teen |
| Official Website | Star Wars Outlaws Website |
