Star Wars Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast (GOG)

Kyle Katarn’s return delivers one of the sharpest blends of first-person shooting and lightsaber combat in the Star Wars catalogue. Set in the years following Return of the Jedi, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast casts the former Jedi as a New Republic operative investigating a rising Imperial threat tied to dark-side power. Its campaign begins as a grounded blaster-driven adventure before gradually restoring Kyle’s connection to the Force, giving the story a satisfying sense of escalation. The tone lands somewhere between pulpy space opera and tense military sci-fi, with familiar Star Wars locations, stormtroopers, smugglers, Imperial installations, and ancient Jedi secrets all in the mix.

Most missions combine exploration, key-hunting, environmental puzzles, platforming, and hectic firefights from a first-person perspective. Kyle carries a broad arsenal of Star Wars weaponry, including blasters, detonators, mines, a bowcaster, and the devastating disruptor rifle, but the lightsaber becomes the real centerpiece once it is unlocked. Saber encounters can be played in first or third person, while Force powers such as Push, Pull, Speed, Mind Trick, Grip, and Lightning open up both combat options and clever ways to handle enemies. Difficulty can be demanding in its older-school level design, particularly when objectives are unclear or platforming demands precision, but the freedom to approach fights with guns, Force abilities, or a blade keeps the campaign varied.

Raven Software’s strength lies in making Jedi powers feel versatile rather than decorative; tossing enemies off ledges or disarming them with Force Pull remains immensely satisfying. The campaign’s large, maze-like levels reflect its early-2000s design, yet that sense of place gives bases, cities, and ruins more personality than a straightforward corridor shooter. Multiplayer supports bot matches and online battles with saber duels, Force powers, and conventional weapons, extending its appeal beyond the story. Fans of Dark Forces, classic shooters such as Half-Life, or anyone who wants a more skill-driven Star Wars action game will find a rewarding, rough-edged classic here.