The Star Wars license in the hands of Ubisoft — many players dreaded this idea. But is Star Wars: Outlaws really as bad as its pre-release critics claimed? Definitely not, though the game is undeniably steeped in Ubisoft's trademark mechanics. This duality is both its strength and its weakness. What exactly does that mean? Let’s dive into the review of this latest title from the French publisher.
The story of Star Wars: Outlaws unfolds between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It’s a compelling setting, as numerous cartels exploit the Empire’s weakening grip to expand aggressively. Enter Kay, a young smuggler with dreams of hitting it big. Unfortunately, a botched job lands her in trouble after robbing Zerek Besh, a wealthy cartel leader. Imprisoned in his base, she narrowly escapes certain death thanks to a daring rescue by Nix, her loyal companion. Thus begins Kay’s journey across the galaxy.
The game offers a mix of main quests, side missions, and bounties. Completing these often raises your reputation with one cartel while lowering it with another. Ultimately, though, Kay ends up working for everyone — as long as they pay her and let her live. One highlight is the inclusion of moral choices during missions, which not only help shape Kay’s character but also add variety to the gameplay.
Kay: The Galaxy’s Troublemaker
Kay is a real firecracker. Her character doesn’t beat around the bush and is only interested in the paycheck. At times, she’s a bit vulgar or totally lacks tact in certain situations. More than once, she fits the motto "stupid people always get lucky," but as the story progresses, our young smuggler becomes more refined. You can tell that Gonzalez really got into the role and had fun recording her lines. Meanwhile, ND-5 is a spiteful commando droid who serves Jaylen, though out of obligation rather than affection. He’s merciless toward Kay’s easygoing attitude, and while he can be helpful, he’s also pretty cold towards our rogue heroine.
When it comes to character creation, other side characters fare a bit worse — they vary greatly. Fortunately, even the weakest ones are still decent, and the majority of them perform at a high level in both voice acting and scripting. I was worried that the developers would try to make Kay the female version of Han Solo, but thankfully, she has her path. And due to her clumsiness, stemming from lack of experience, she’s quite charming.
A Smuggled-In Mediocrity
The biggest drawback of Star Wars: Outlaws is the typical Ubisoft mediocrity. Every element is done correctly, but nothing stands out as exceptional. The story has its moments and is engaging, but it won’t go down in gaming history. The shooting is fun, but it’s not something that will make you want to play the game solely for the gunplay. The open world is filled with collectibles and tasks, but we’ve seen this many times before in Ubisoft games. The side quests are the classic "go, fetch, clean up" type, and upgrades require gathering tons of different resources. A lot of time is also spent on platforming sections or exploring caves, mountains, cartel bases, and other locations. This can get quite tedious at times.
I also have to complain a bit about the physics. When speeding on a speeder and crashing into something, Kay gets thrown off the seat. However, it looks so artificial and unbelievable that it’s downright comical. The character jumps up and falls a couple of meters away, even if we were going at top speed. Several times, my Kay was also hit by random vehicles. Literally. This resulted in a frustrating loss of health.
As for the AI of the enemies… it doesn’t work. There were many occasions when I got into a shootout with some scoundrels, but a nearby patrol didn’t even notice. Another time, I wiped out half of a hangar’s personnel in a heavy firefight. Why only half? The remaining stormtroopers, even though they saw their comrades fall, didn’t react at all. During stealth sections, there were also paradoxes where a guard standing right in front of Kay couldn’t see her. Other times, they had eagle eyes and could spot her from a mile away. It’s also common for enemies searching for us to lose interest after a while, even with dead bodies or unconscious companions lying around.
Decent Filler for Star Wars Fans
Star Wars: Outlaws is enjoyable, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. While the achievements may extend playtime slightly, they fall into the familiar Ubisoft pattern of “collect X items, upgrade Y skills,” which can feel artificially padded. Still, for Star Wars fans craving an open-world action game, it fills a notable gap in the franchise's offerings.
That said, it’s disappointing that the game fails to transcend Ubisoft’s usual formula. The publisher’s decision to withhold content for later season pass releases is also frustrating. It’s not a great look, Ubisoft.
So, is Star Wars: Outlaws worth playing? If you’re a Star Wars fan or need a casual game to pass the time, then yes. However, it’s best to wait for a sale or use Ubisoft+ to avoid paying full price. It’s a fun distraction, but it won’t stick with you for long.
