Star Wars Games Are Best When They Let the Weird Jobs Matter [Guest Article]

Star Wars games have always had one very obvious problem.

The Jedi are standing right there.

They have laser swords. They have magic space instincts. They get dramatic robes, ancient temples, moral crises, and the sort of destiny speeches that make everyone else in the galaxy quietly check their schedule and wonder whether they still have to pay rent.

So naturally, a lot of Star Wars games end up orbiting the Jedi fantasy. And fair enough. When it works, it works. Jedi Knight, Jedi Outcast, Jedi: Fallen Order, and Jedi: Survivor all understand that swinging a lightsaber around while the galaxy collapses is, scientifically speaking, quite fun.

But the strange truth is this: Star Wars games are often at their best when they let someone else have the controls.

Not the chosen one. Not the last hope. Not the robed person in the middle of the poster.

The bounty hunter. The clone commando. The pilot. The smuggler. The soldier. The mercenary. The doomed fool in a cockpit wondering why the Empire brought that many TIE fighters.

That is where Star Wars games get interesting.

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Dverghold – Early Access Release Date [Trailer]

Back in February this year, I gave the Dverghold demo a go and found it very appealing in both gameplay/mechanics and retro visual style. In other words: it was something to look forward to—if you enjoy blobbers, that is. And now a release date has been announced, which is closer than I expected: July 22, 2026. It comes with one drawback, though—an Early Access release.

It will be released in an unfinished state, but it will contain Chapter 1 of the story. I just hope it’s a success so we actually get to see the completion of the game—because EA, in the context of an indie developer, is truly a double-edged sword for early adopters. But I believe in Kvltgames!

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EXODUS – Extended Gameplay Reveal [Gameplay trailer]

Is EXODUS the new Mass Effect? If we go by this twenty-minute narrated gameplay demonstration, there is a pretty good chance it is. Before watching this video, I honestly thought EXODUS was a semi-dead AAA project (like most of them). You know how it is—while it got the mechanics and gameplay down, it’s looking absolutely soulless yet here we are now. It actually comes off as genuinely fun, with a strange future to explore (sentient animals, anyone?), good third-person pop-a-mole combat (even has stealth), and classic choices & consequences to ponder.

Now, this could be a highly curated slice of gameplay, which it probably is, but I can’t help getting a bit hyped. I need a new massive third-person space-opera shooter to explore! Check out the video after the jump!

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The Tragedy at Deer Creek – Frontier Trauma [Review]

Put on your best jacket and a warm pair of socks because we are heading into the cold frontier! The Tragedy at Deer Creek is a point-and-click adventure title with a heavy focus on its story. While the gameplay, the presentation and the narrative are very competently made, I’m in the middle of how I ended up feeling for the game. That’s mostly for my general dislike of ghost stories, as they usually don’t work on me at all.

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Star Wars Zero Company [Gameplay Trailer]

This awesome trailer for Star Wars Zero Company came out a few days ago, so let’s talk about it. But first, a release date was also announced, and it’s surprisingly close: 27 August this year. Only about two months out, which will go fast. Now, about the trailer, the first thing that stands out to me is the light comic style of the graphics, much like Xcom 2. It fits and looks good, going by the trailer—and well, the era it’s in helps with the visuals: late-stage Clone Wars era (a favorite of mine).

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