Summary
TheStar Warsseries is known for its vast galaxy, consisting of many inhabited and uninhabited planets. While media such as TV, film, and comics continue to populate theStar Warsuniverse with new lore, theStar Warsvideo games have played a key role in introducing new elements and ideas to theStar Warstimeline.
From the earlyStar Warsgames, such asStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR), to the latest titles, video games have continued to populateStar Warswith new planets for players to explore. Although theStar Warsgames introduce numerous new planets, some stand out above the rest.
KOTORintroduced the planetof Mannan when the game was released in 2003. A newcanonplanet, Mannan was home to the Selkath - a strict, rule-abiding species who ruled the planet with an iron fist in the protection of a rare substance known as kolto. During the events of theKOTORgames in the years of the Jedi Civil War, the Selkath bore both the Republic and Sith in their attempts to harvest kolto.
When players land on the planet in the quest to find one of the lost star forge maps, the world is at the cusp of anarchy, with Selkath authorities struggling to control the Sith. Although not the best planet on this list due to often bland environments, it is still one of the best worlds Star Warsvideo games have introduced due to its underwater gameplay and unique level design.
Nur is an outer rim planet and home of the Sith inquisitor’s headquarters, Fortress Inquisitorius. Introduced during theStar Wars: Jedi Fallen Ordergames, players must infiltrate the base to retrieve a holocron. Although Nur is not strictly explorable as a planet, the fortress is. Players must traverse Nur underwater to reach the headquarters, battling through the facility and eventually facing the Second Sister Inquisitor and thepowerful SithDarth Vader in an epic battle.
Nur is later featured in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Nur makes this list due to introducing anepic settingand lore that has continued to shape theStar Warstimeline.
The moon Toshara was introduced inStar Wars: Outlaws, featuring vast grasslands and arid plains surrounded by mountains. Toshara is the second planet players explore in the game’s story. Expansive, the planet is the only open-world sandbox on this list with an immersive environment and lived-in world that feels quintessential toStar Wars. Toshara is also home to the crime syndicate the Pykes and their leader, Gorak Palas, who controls most of the planet.
Navigating the complexities of criminal life, Kay Vess (the player’s character) must survive in the criminal world of Toshara, forming allegiances and making enemies. Toshara makes this list with vibrant open-world environments and expansive content. Toshara narrowly comes above Nur due to its open-world environment.
Malachor V was introduced in theKOTORsequel,Star Wars Knights of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords. An outer rim planet consumed by the force’s dark side, Malachor V, once peaceful and fertile, was warped by the superweapon known as the mass shadow generator to become a storm-ridden planet that consumes life.
Central to the events ofKOTOR 2,Malachor V was the home of the Trayus Academy, a Sith institution led by the infamous Sith Lord Darth Traya that trained Sith such as Darth Nihilus and Sion. In the game’s final sequences, the player must fight Darth Traya in the academy, stopping an end to the evil planet once and for all.
The world was later mentioned in the Clone Wars TV series. Malachor V, due to its interesting explorable environment andSith lineage, deserves to be second on this list, combining the best elements of Nur and Toshara.
1Taris
Expansive Metropolis That Rivals Coruscant
Introduced inStar Wars: Knights of The Old Republic,Taris is the first planet players explore as they journey across the galaxy to defeat the evil Sith Lord Darth Malak. Taris is a sprawling metropolis, much like Coruscant, and the best new planet introduced by Star Wars games.
Upon landing on the planet, players must navigate the world’s underbelly, mingling with criminal gangs and the high life of the surface, to uncover what happened to theJedi Bastila Shanafter an attack by the Sith empire in space. Featuring some ofStar Wars’best sidequests, such as the Taris dueling ring, swoop racing, and epic fights with crime bosses such as Davik Kang, Taris is full of jam-packed content. Taris is also massive, with multiple levels, including the undercity ravid with the Rakghoul plague.
While Darth Malak eventually blows up most of the planet through an aerial bombardment,KOTORintroduced Taris toStar Warscanon, with subsequent canon media mentioning the world. Taris is the best planet the Star Wars games have introduced, with extensive content and diverse environments that dwarf all other planets introduced byStar Warsvideo games.
