Star Wars Outlaws Review: An Ambitious but Uneven Galaxy of Potential

Star Wars Outlaws is an ambitious open-world Star Wars game that excels in its visual presentation and world-building while struggling with core gameplay mechanics. The game offers an unprecedented level of Star Wars universe immersion but is held back by simplified combat and stealth systems.

Star Wars Outlaws: Bold Ambitions Meet Galaxy-Sized Growing Pains

You’ve heard it before: another Star Wars game, another swing for the fences. This time, though, they’re aiming for hyperspace.

The Highs

Visuals That Slap
Let’s talk about the obvious: this game looks insane. Massive Entertainment didn’t just make a Star Wars game; they painted a Star Wars masterpiece. Planets feel alive, from Tatooine’s dusty chaos to cities that outshine some of the recent Disney+ shows. It’s the love child of Knights of the Old Republic’s scale and Battlefront’s polish, with a layer of next-gen flair slapped on top.

Worlds You Actually Want to Explore
Forget the fetch-quest wastelands of your typical Ubisoft formula. Here, exploration is king. Maps don’t hand-hold with glowing markers or "just climb this tower" mechanics. Want to find the cool stuff? Go sniff it out. Every corner feels handcrafted, like you’ve stumbled into an actual galaxy far, far away. Bonus: no mini-map clutter to drive you mad.

Progression, Rebooted
Say goodbye to boring skill trees. Instead, you’ve got the “expert” system—an RPG-lite twist that makes you hunt down NPCs to learn their secrets. It’s clever, fits the Star Wars vibe, and gives you a reason to jet-set across the galaxy. Less grinding, more storytelling.

The Lows

Gameplay That Just Doesn’t Stick the Landing
Here’s where the game feels...off. Stealth is barebones, combat lacks punch, and space battles? Let’s just say dogfighting isn’t the highlight reel. Even mission design leans into the repetitive grind—fine for filler, but not for a Star Wars adventure. Massive nailed visuals; they fumbled mechanics.

A Story That Takes Its Sweet Time
The narrative tries hard but stumbles over the open-world format. You’ll spend the first dozen hours wondering if anything important is happening. Missions can be tackled out of order, so character development gets sliced into forgettable chunks. The payoff comes late—like, final-act late—when it finally serves up some Star Wars magic. But getting there? A slog.

The Verdict

Star Wars Outlaws is both a thrill ride and a mixed bag. When it works, it works. The world-building, the visuals, the sheer Star Wars-ness—it’s all there. But clunky mechanics and pacing issues keep it grounded.

Think of it like Shadows of the Empire—flawed but unforgettable. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ll probably find enough to love here. For everyone else, it’s worth a shot if you’ve got the patience to wade through the rough patches. Not every starship is Millennium Falcon-tier, but sometimes a beat-up freighter is still worth the ride.