When it launched in 2008, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was a breath of fresh air for the Star Wars franchise. Not only did the game offer an entirely new character as the main protagonist, but it gave them an incredible backstory — serving to become Darth Vader's apprentice.

The character, named Starkiller, slowly becomes aware of Darth Vader's evil intentions and eventually rebels against his leader. What follows is an engaging narrative that sees Starkiller entangled with the Rebel Alliance, the Galactic Civil War, and the Emperor. It also serves as a way to tie together the first and second Star Wars trilogies.

Critics and fans both enjoyed The Force Unleased narrative (it earned a respectable Metascore: in the 70s across most platforms, a 65 on Switch, which was just released in April 2022), but the praise didn't stop there. Combat was fast-paced and visceral, with Starkiller given the ability to use the Force to dominate groups of foes or slice them down with their lightsaber. Master the system, and you'll be pulling off incredible combos that let you light up the battlefield and walk away without taking a single hit. It's a fun system, and one that was further refined in The Force Unleashed II.

Unfortunately, The Force Unleashed is a short-lived adventure, with most players exploring every corner of its world in less than 20 hours. In fact, the main campaign should take less than 10 hours. But once you've wrapped up your journey as Starkiller (and delved into The Force Unleashed II), there are plenty of similar titles to throw on your shopping list.

Here are 10 games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed to play next, ranked by Metascore.

God of War (PS4)

Metascore: 94
Best for: Fans of Norse mythology and violent combat
Where to buy:

Also available on: PC, PS2

Kratos is back for another violent, limb-rending adventure, this time with his son Atreus by his side. The two are venturing towards the top of a nearby mountain to scatter the ashes of Kratos' wife — but the duo are met with resistance from Norse-inspired enemies nearly every step of the way. Combat is much more visceral than previous entries, with each encounter requiring careful timing and planning to walk away unscathed. An emotional narrative sets the backdrop for the action, although it's so powerful that it often manages to become the star of the show.  

"Kratos' new beginning is full of heart, loaded with action and is easily one of the best games of this generation." — Gaming Age

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC)

Metascore: 93
Best for: Fans seeking an in-depth Star Wars RPG
Where to buy:

Also available on: iOS, Switch

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is one of the oldest games on this list. But don't let its age fool you, as its nuanced gameplay has aged surprisingly well. KOTOR sees you crafting your own character before setting out on a quest to help save the Jedi Order. How that unfolds, however, is entirely up to you. Few other Star Wars games give you as much freedom as this stellar RPG, and any fan of the franchise owes it to themselves to check out one of the brand's best reviewed games. Best of all, the game doesn't require a fancy gaming rig to run smoothly, and you can even check it out on iOS or Nintendo Switch.

"KOTOR's most valuable feature [is] total freedom, freedom to go where you want to go, do what you want to do, and let the adventure unfold at your own pace." — Game Chronicles

Nier: Automata (PS4)

Metascore: 88
Best for: Fans of engaging narratives and bizarre worlds
Where to buy:

Also available on: PC

Nier: Automata is an action-RPG from PlatinumGames. The studio is known for producing titles with fast-paced and fluid combat, and that holds true for this highly-regarded journey. Much of the time you'll be hacking away at foes with powerful weapons and stringing together lengthy combos, but there's plenty of variety to be found throughout its 20-plus hour campaign. At various points you'll find yourself working through an old school text adventure game or piloting a mech to takedown gigantic foes. The mysterious narrative is nothing to scoff at either, with it walking you through a post-apocalyptic world on a captivating journey that'll stick with you long after you put down the controller.

"An absolute masterclass in game design. It surpasses expectations time and time again resulting in an experience not to be missed by fans of action titles." — GameGrin

Fallout 4 (PS4)

Metascore: 87
Best for: Fans of apocalyptic adventures
Where to buy: 

Also available on: PC, XB1

Set in a world torn apart by a nuclear event, Fallout 4 is a bleak game. You'll set out as the lone survivor of an underground safe house (Vault 111), as you follow a player-driven narrative and rebuild the settlements around you. The open-world game offers a robust crafting and building system that lets you piece together new structures with resources littering its war-torn landscape. Rebuilding is only one part of the game. The other (and larger) part is exploration and combat, which can be slowed down in real-time to pull off strategic shots and exploit enemy weak spots.

"A strong return for the franchise, boasting incredible customization, a fascinating world and brutal yet brainy shooting." — PlayStation Official Magazine UK

Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)

Metascore: 85
Best for: Fans seeking a Star Wars MMO
Where to buy:

Also available on: N/A

Don't confuse The Old Republic with Knights of the Old Republic. They might share a similar name, but they offer radically different gameplay. The Old Republic is a long-running MMORPG that sees you building your own Star Wars character before diving into a virtual world filled with thousands of other players. Several classes are playable (including Bounty Hunter and Jedi Knight), each with their own unique abilities that contribute to success on the battlefield. Much of the game is meant to be played with your fellow adventurers, but you can always venture off solo and run through its lengthy campaign.

"They have succeeded far beyond my admittedly high expectations. As a KOTOR fan, I finally have my long-awaited sequel(s). As an MMO fan, I am hooked. As a Star Wars fan, I am enthralled." — G4 TV

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS5)

Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of the LEGO video game series
Where to buy:

Also available on: PC, PS4, Switch, XB1, XBX

LEGO games always offer a family-friendly experience, but few are on the same scale as The Skywalker Saga. The latest in the franchise offers more than 300 playable characters, more than 100 vehicles to pilot, dozens of planets to explore, and a campaign that'll walk you through all nine films in the original Skywalker saga. TT Games delayed its launch for quite some time, but the final product was more than worth the wait — not only is it one of the most complete Star Wars games ever made, but it also pulled in an impressive Metascore.

"TT Games has outdone itself by reinventing the LEGO formula to create the most complete Star Wars game in history." — XGN

inFamous: Second Son (PS4)

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of open-world freedom
Where to buy:

Also available on: N/A

Released in 2014, the open-world adventure game still stands as one of the most popular on the platform, as few others can compete with its gorgeous setting of Seattle and bombastic superpowers given to its main character. When you're not using your supernatural skills to decimate foes, you'll be able to climb around the Seattle landscape using a simple (but effective) parkour system. Throw in stunning graphics and a karma system that tracks whether you're "Good" or "Evil," and it's easy to see why so many players dive back in for a second playthrough.

"A phenomenal game, and a must-play for any PlayStation 4 owner. If you don't own a PS4, it's worth buying one just to play Second Son — that's how good it is." — GamesBeat

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3)

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of cyborgs and precise, melee combat
Where to buy:

Also available on: PC, XB360

Metal Gear games typically rely on stealth and slinking in the shadows undetected. That's not the case for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, which is a full-fledged hack-and-slash title. And instead of controlling Snake, you'll step into the cyborg shoes of Raiden — who just so happens to wield a deadly sword with pinpoint accuracy. You'll be able to swing it at a variety of angles, letting you hack away at enemies' weak spots or cut down obstacles in the environment. Its unique swordplay is the main reason for its high Metascore, although there's also a complex narrative that should give traditional Metal Gear fans reason to keep playing.

"Platinum Games has done something incredibly rare: honoring a beloved series while successfully broadening its reach into a whole new genre." — Polygon

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS4)

Metascore: 79
Best for: Fans seeking a "Soulslike" Star Wars
Where to buy:

Also available on: PC, PS5, Stadia, XB1, XBX

It's not an easy game, but Fallen Order is one of the best (and newest) Star Wars games on the market. It's built as a Soulslike, meaning you'll have challenging combat, checkpoints that restore health, and dodging and blocking skills that are crucial to your survival. You'll also have access to Force powers and lightsaber abilities that give you plenty of options when it comes to dominating your opponents. Cal Kestis is the star of the show, as the young Padawan is being hunted by the Empire while he helps save the Jedi Order. The game draws inspiration from plenty of classic titles but does so without becoming overwhelming or bogged down by its ambitions.

"A thrilling marriage of Uncharted, Dark Souls and Metroid, a few technical hiccups aren't nearly enough to derail the best Star Wars game in years. Rewarded, your patience has been." — PlayStation Universe

Warframe (PS4)

Metascore: 69
Best for: Fans of looting and shooting
Where to buy: PlayStation Store
Also available on: PC, PS5, Switch, XB1

Warframe is a game filled with piles of loots, mountains of unlockable skills, and more than 100 hours of gameplay. Its esoteric story about a race of ancient warriors is compelling enough (and has grown significantly, thanks to post-launch content), but the main reason thousands of players are still active is the fast-paced gameplay. Warframe gives you unprecedented control of how you slay foes, with both melee swordplay and long-ranged gunplay viable options. Each of the 40-plus Frames offers unique abilities, too, meaning its easy to sink hours into a single character before swapping to another and building a new playstyle.

"The core gameplay, including the variety of suits and weapons, is terrific, and it's reason enough to play this sci-fi shooter." — IGN