Star Warsis one of the most popular franchises of all time, being extremely adaptable to a huge variety of media avenues such as the recent hitAndor. As well as being perfect for cinema, the world ofStar Warshas proven to be very adaptable to the videogame industry.
The most recent foray by theStar Warsfranchise into TV series' has recently arrived withAndor,a Disney+ show with a much more grounded and dark portrayal of theStar Warsuniverse. With how popular the show has proven to be with fans, a discussion can be made in regard toStar Warsvideogames possessing the same darker tones and overall themes.
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The Basics of Andor
The Andor show follows the story of Cassian Andor, a thief with a troubled past who joins the Rebel Alliance in an attempt to overthrow the domineering and ruthless Galactic Empire. KeenStar Warsfans will remember the character of Cassian Andor from thepopular standaloneStar WarsfilmRogue One, in which he appeared in an extensive and memorable role.
The show tells the events of the five years leading up to the instrumental events ofRogue Oneand the Rebel acquirement of the plans to the Death Star. The heroes of the show lack the franchise norm of Force sensitivity as seen in Jedi, so the events of the show are fostered by much more grounded and gritty parameters, with a focus on the strife and corruption perpetrated by the Empire and the often dark and underhanded methods that are required to fight back. Given how many are regarding this as a breath of fresh air for the longstanding franchise, a good case can be made forfutureStar Warsvideo gamesto follow this more serious and dark pacing.
What Darker Star Wars Games Could Look Like
While the core subject matter ofStar Warsis inherently dark given its exploration of oppressive regimes and war, it is no secret that the franchise has historically been thematically lifted via comedy and more family-friendly elements. This has often translated to other media adaptations that fall under the franchise, with lighter plot and atmospheric elements brightening the tone to make the media in question more accessible to a wider scope of audience.
There are darker elements inStar Warsgamessuch asForce Unleashedand even the recentJedi: Fallen Order, but the games still maintain a lot of the whimsical narrative and world building elements that are often present in the movies. However, with just how massive the breadth of potential stories under theStar Warsname is, there is undoubtedly a lot of material that could be used to explore a truly darkStar Warstitle.
Like Andor, a less overpowered protagonist would likely be crucial to fostering this kind of game, truly grounding the core gameplay and increasing the stakes and intensity of hostile engagement. This would additionally allow the player to resonate with the story on a more human and personal level, away from the kind of power that can come from a more supernatural focus. Additionally, futureStar Warsgames could even be set entirely from a perspective ofthe Empire or the Sith, flipping the expected narrative and allowing players to truly appreciate the sinister nature of the longtime franchise antagonists.
While it is important thatStar Warsmedia should appeal to as wide of an audience as it can, the sheer amount of content that can be set within the franchise absolutely allows for some darker adaptations to be produced.AsAndorhas already shownin the short time it has been available to fans, there is a clear market and sustained desire for darkerStar Warscontent, and the medium of video games could be the best way to deliver it.
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