Ever since Star Wars fans caught word of Star Wars: Outlaws, the anticipation skyrocketed. An open-world action-adventure game set in the gritty underbelly of the Star Wars universe, far removed from Jedi heroics and Sith power struggles, it offered something fresh. Think less Luke Skywalker battling the Dark Side and more Han Solo-style heists and outlaw escapades. While Outlaws doesn’t quite live up to its lofty ambitions, it still manages to deliver a good time in its own scrappy way—so long as you’re willing to take the uneven gameplay and technical hiccups in stride.

The Story - Heists, Betrayals, and Scoundrel Charm

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Outlaws thrusts you into the boots of Kay Vess, a relatable, morally flexible smuggler trying to scrape by while dodging crime bosses and Imperial forces. The game kicks off with Kay botching a heist in Canto Bight, resulting in a massive bounty on her head. From there, she partners with her endlessly charming little space-raccoon companion, Nix, to take odd jobs, plot heists, and assemble a crew to pull off the ultimate score.

The story leans heavily into classic heist tropes—think Ocean’s Eleven meets Star Wars—with a healthy sprinkle of underworld politics that adds some depth. Double-crosses and shady deals are the norm, and while the twists are predictable at times, it’s fun to see how Kay navigates the morally murky waters. Kay herself is likable, even if she doesn’t stray far from the “scrappy loner with a heart of gold” archetype. Sure, she’s not rewriting the book on Star Wars characters, but she’s relatable enough to keep you invested.

The writing shines most when it focuses on the Star Wars universe itself. From sneaky callbacks to classic films (you’ll totally geek out when sneaking around Jabba’s palace) to the hilarious antics of a crime boss who uses his carbonite-encased brother as office furniture, there’s a lot here for fans to enjoy. It’s not groundbreaking storytelling, but who would say no to a Star Wars crime caper?

World Design - A Galaxy Brought to Life

One of Outlaws’ biggest strengths lies in its world-building. Kay’s adventure spans four planets, each offering its own distinct vibe. You’ll visit sandy Tatooine (yes, you’ll hate how the sand gets everywhere), lush rainforests on Akiva, cityscapes bustling with aliens and chatter, and even a sprawling High Republic starship that’s seen better days. These environments feel dense and lived-in, full of alien markets, cantinas, and random side conversations that immerse you in the world of Star Wars.

The game also includes some solid space exploration, though it’s scaled back—you’re not free to roam the entire system as you might in No Man’s Sky. Planet-hopping and dogfights with TIE fighters are exhilarating at first, though the novelty wears thin when you realize the space mechanics are relatively shallow.

Where Outlaws shines brightest, however, is how it uses details to reward exploration. Eavesdropping on chatter or digging into a discarded datapad often leads to hidden treasures—or at least a cool little tidbit of lore. It’s these small moments that make the world feel authentic, even when the gameplay doesn’t quite match the ambition.

That said, you might spend some time wishing the planets were a little more interactive. There’s a lot to see, but not always a lot to do beyond the main missions and the usual Ubisoft-style “checklist” activities like checkpoint races and delivery quests. The overall scope is good, but Outlaws doesn’t reach the open-world heights of games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3.

Gameplay - Fun but Repetitive

Now onto the meat of it—how does Outlaws actually play? Well… it’s a mixed bag.

Combat

The gunfights are solid, if not groundbreaking. Kay is armed with a trusty blaster, grenades, and a surprisingly useful Adrenaline Rush ability that lets her slow down time to mark and take out multiple enemies in one stylish burst. Think Dead-Eye from Red Dead Redemption. Blaster impacts hit with satisfying sound design, and enemy AI… tries its best. Add in some environmental hazards, like explosive barrels, and you’ve got a combat system that’s passable but not innovative. It works, but it doesn’t excel.

What does wear thin quickly is the repetitive nature of these firefights. Every encounter starts to feel the same—enter room, shoot stormtroopers, use cover, repeat. The lack of variety in enemy types makes things even more predictable. It’s fun at first but gets old fast, like reheating the same leftovers all week.

Stealth

Stealth enthusiasts, brace yourselves. Outlaws’ stealth mechanics are underwhelming. You’ll spend a lot of time sneaking around air vents and tall grass to dispatch guards, distract cameras, or hack terminals. While your companion Nix can assist by fetching items or creating diversions, the AI doesn’t always cooperate, leading to clunky moments. Enemies often feel like they went to the Stormtrooper School of Bad Decision-Making, making stealth too easy—or, conversely, wildly inconsistent.

Sure, there’s something enjoyable about outmaneuvering guards alongside your furry sidekick, but the overall stealth system feels like an afterthought, especially when compared to games like Assassin’s Creed or Metal Gear Solid.

Exploration

While stealth and combat don’t deliver as much as you’d hope, exploration manages to hold its own. Upgrading your speeder to cross rivers or bunny hop obstacles is satisfying, and there’s plenty of hidden loot and upgrades sprinkled across the galaxy. These moments encourage you to wander off the beaten path, and they help offset the more repetitive parts of the game.

The Syndicate System - A (Mostly) Bright Spot

The Syndicate system is hands-down one of Outlaws’ coolest mechanics. Throughout the game, Kay’s actions impact her standing with four major crime syndicates. Help one faction, and you’ll earn their trust—but piss off another in the process. This dynamic adds layers to decision-making and makes you feel like your choices matter, even if they don’t heavily impact the main story. Do you ally yourself with the Hutts for cheaper black-market weapons, or avoid burning bridges to keep your options open?

It’s not as deep as systems found in RPGs like Mass Effect, but it adds some much-needed flavor to the grind and makes the criminal underworld feel alive.

The Bugs and Technical Woes

Here’s where Outlaws shoots itself in the foot. The game launched with a fair share of bugs, and while none were entirely game-breaking, they’re impossible to ignore. Dialogues randomly cutting out, NPCs clipping through walls, unresponsive mission prompts—it’s all here. Add to that the occasional awkward camera angles during speeder chases, and there’s plenty to frustrate players.

Ubisoft has promised patches and improvements, but as of right now, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the game needed more polish before release.

Verdict - A Good Game with Room to Improve

Star Wars: Outlaws isn’t an instant classic, but it’s not a flop, either. It’s the gaming equivalent of a solid popcorn movie—a fun, fan-service-filled adventure with glimpses of greatness, bogged down by familiar flaws. Its world-building, heist storyline, and syndicate system help elevate it, but the repetitive combat, lackluster stealth, and technical issues keep it firmly in the “good, not great” category.

For Star Wars fans, it’s still worth exploring—just don’t expect it to replace your Jedi Survivor or KOTOR memories. At its core, Outlaws is a scruffy-looking nerf herder of a game, but, hey—it’s our nerf herder.

Score: 7/10. May the bugs be patched in due time, and may the Force be with us all.