How Star Wars Outlaws’ NPCs Make a Galaxy Far, Far Away Feel a Bit More Familiar

Once again, Star Wars fans are being plunged into their favorite sci-fi galaxy thanks to the recently released Star Wars Outlaws. They are getting to experience what it is like to live in this turbulent galaxy and are spending hours combating some of its greatest adversaries. However, unlike Star Wars games of the past, Star Wars Outlaws takes a bit of a different approach to the concept. While it may have a lot of the hallmarks of past games, this time around, players are being taken on an open-world adventure they may not soon forget.

Since Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world title, there are many planets waiting to be explored. And on these planets, there is so much for players to discover, including unique stories and collectibles. But, although these landscapes have been beautifully realized, perhaps the best part of them is the small things. Specifically, the NPCs that call each planet home. Because without them and their conversations, the galaxy far, far away would feel much more barren.

Star Wars Outlaws Feels Lived In

The NPCs of Outlaws Make the Worlds Feel Alive

Just like with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor before it, Star Wars Outlaws‘ worlds have been injected with fun little conversations for players to stumble upon. These conversations do not really mean much, as they purely exist to add life to the planet. But their inclusion goes a long way in doing just that. Even if players do not stop to listen, the fact that they exist makes the galaxy feel alive.

From the very first planet, Star Wars Outlaws players will experience the liveliness of the NPCs. As they explore Cantonica, they will encounter a wide variety of them just going about their day. Some will be engaged in some type of gambling, others will be arguing with each other, some will be talking about their day, and a couple will simply be wandering the streets. Whatever they are doing, Massive Entertainment has ensured that it feels real. And the fun does not stop because every planet is filled to the brim with moments like this, making them far more than simple backdrops to Kay Vess’ adventure.

Future Star Wars Games Should Really Take Notes From Outlaws

Of course, players will likely see the beautiful landscapes that the studio has crafted for Star Wars Outlaws, since they are pretty jaw-dropping at times. However, including these small conversations has taken those worlds to the next level. It not only gives the NPCs far more purpose, but it also goes a long way in immersing the player into the galaxy, which is all that any open-world game hopes to accomplish.

Star Wars Outlaws would hardly be the first game to give NPCs their very own lives, and it should not be the last. It is one thing to craft an exciting open world for players to explore, but a whole other thing to actually make that world feel alive. Games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto 5, and now Star Wars Outlaws seem to understand this. So, hopefully, more open-world games take some notes and deliver something that feels real.

Star Wars Outlaws can be truly special, as it is the first true open-world game fans of the franchise have gotten. If it succeeds, then there are likely plenty more adventures like it in the pipeline. And although those titles will probably explore completely different planets or stories, they should also be careful not to leave behind what makes Star Wars Outlaws work. Without their small moments, these worlds may not feel worth the price of admission.