Like all good Sci-Fi franchises,Star Warshas plenty of in-universe games and pastimes. Some of the most iconic recreational activities in theStar Warsuniverse are those seen in the movies, such asThe Phantom Menace’s Podracing,Attack of the Clones' macabre arena games,A New Hope’s Dejarik, andSolo’s Sabacc. And it’s this last activity that plays a prominent role inStar Wars Outlaws.
First introduced all the way back in 1983 with the Legends novelLando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu, Sabacc is essentially theStar Warsuniverse’s poker, requiring players to bluff and scheme their way to a winning hand. Naturally, this makes Sabacc one of the most popular games among the galaxy’s scoundrels and lowlifes, which makes it the perfect minigame forStar Wars Outlaws. While card games can often be a bit overcomplicated,Star Wars Outlaws' version of Sabacc manages to find a strong balance between accessible and engaging.
Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc Strikes The Perfect Balance
Star Wars Outlaws Features a Streamlined Version of Sabacc
Just like poker, there are several different variations of Sabacc playedacross theStar Warsgalaxy. The type of Sabacc players will encounter inStar Wars Outlawsis called Kessel Sabacc, named after the infamous spice mines. This version of Sabacc sees players holding two cards in their hand. One card belongs to the Sand suit, while the other belongs to the Blood suit. Both cards have a number value on them. At the end of a round of Kessel Sabacc, these cards' numbers are subtracted from one another. For example, holding a card with a value of 3 and a card with a value of 2 would result in the player getting a score of 1.
The general goal ofStar Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabaccis to be left with a card value as close to 0 as possible. For each of Kessel Sabacc’s three turns, players can choose to stick with their hand or draw a card from the discard, Sand, or Blood decks in an attempt to get a pair that will offer the lowest value possible when the two cards are subtracted from one another.
Though it seems complicated when written down,Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc is actually very accessible, and players will probably manage to pick it up after playng just a round or two. As alluded to earlier,Star Wars Outlaws' version of Sabaccis a streamlined version of the card game. The traditional form of Sabacc has players trying to aim for a score of 23 as opposed to 0 and includes four different suits. This more streamlined version still gives fans a hint of the usual canon form of Sabacc while making the game fun and simple for general audiences.
Star Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc Can Get More Complex
But whileStar Wars Outlaws' Kessel Sabacc may be a more streamlined version, that’s not to say it can’t get a bit more complex for those who want the increased challenge and room for strategy.Kessel Sabacc introduces Impostor cardsthat require the player to roll some dice to determine its value, and Sylop cards that automatically gain the value of the other card in the player’s hand. Shift tokens also play a major role in the more challenging Sabacc matches inStar Wars Outlaws, with them granting players a special ability at the start of each round.
