9 /10 23

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor stands as a defining action-adventure that improves nearly every element from Fallen Order while solidifying itself as one of the finest Star Wars games ever crafted. Released in April 2023 to critical acclaim with an 86 Metacritic score, Survivor expands the Jedi fantasy with larger worlds, evolved combat mechanics, and five new planets to conquer. This review covers everything you need to know about Cal Kestis’ continued journey against the Empire, from gameplay mechanics to technical performance across all platforms.

How to Play Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor combines souls-like combat with dynamic traversal and puzzle-solving across six explorable planets. The core gameplay loop centers on parrying enemy attacks, managing stamina, and unleashing Cal’s growing Force abilities in real-time combat encounters. Players progress through main story missions while discovering optional collectibles, side quests, and hidden areas that reward exploration.

1. Controls – Lightsaber combat relies on precise timing and parrying; the learning curve is moderate, steeper on higher difficulties where parry windows tighten significantly
2. Progression – Unlock new lightsaber stances, Force moves, and traversal abilities by completing story chapters and discovering hidden Force Echoes throughout each planet
3. Combat/Mechanics – Master five distinct lightsaber styles (Double-Bladed, Single-Bladed, Crossguard, Dual Sabers, Blaster+Saber hybrid), each with unique combos and parry frames
4. Tips – Don’t rush; explore every corner for cosmetics and ability upgrades. Lower difficulties remove frustration from tough bosses while maintaining core gameplay. Use your droid BD-1’s abilities to scan enemies for weaknesses before engaging

Who Should Play Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

This game appeals to action-adventure enthusiasts, Star Wars lore fans, and players seeking substantial single-player experiences with meaningful challenge. It rewards patient exploration and deliberate combat over twitch reflexes, making it accessible to veterans and newcomers alike.

• Action-Adventure Fans – If you loved God of War, Uncharted, or Tomb Raider, Survivor’s blend of combat, exploration, and narrative will resonate deeply
• Star Wars Enthusiasts – Cal’s story ties directly into the original trilogy era; expect surprising character moments and world-building that enriches canon understanding
• Souls-like Players – The parry-focused combat mirrors Sekiro’s precision but feels more forgiving; difficulty options let you adjust the challenge without sacrificing depth
• Skip if – You dislike games requiring pattern memorization for boss fights, or prefer fast-paced combat without stamina management. Multiplayer-focused players will find no online content

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Platform Performance

Performance varies significantly across hardware. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X deliver nearly identical results in both visual and performance modes, while PC scales beautifully with higher-end GPUs. Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 versions launched later with substantial compromises in resolution and framerate.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor System Requirements

PC demands are substantial; the game requires modern mid-range hardware for consistent 60fps at 1440p. The 155GB download represents one of the largest single-game installations, necessitating an SSD for acceptable loading times. Broadband internet required for mandatory day-one patches that can exceed 10GB.

Similar Games to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Multiple titles share Survivor’s blend of cinematic storytelling, challenging combat, and exploration-driven design. Each offers distinct takes on the action-adventure formula with their own unique strengths and mechanics.

• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Direct predecessor with similar parry mechanics but less refined world design; shorter playtime (12-15 hours) and smaller environments
• God of War Ragnarök – Comparable combat complexity with rune magic replacing Force abilities; superior narrative pacing but less exploration freedom
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – The template for Survivor’s parry-heavy combat; punishing difficulty without accessibility options; lacks exploration depth
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Cinematic presentation matches Survivor’s character-driven storytelling; lighter combat focus with emphasis on environmental puzzle-solving

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor vs Competitors

Survivor positions itself in an increasingly competitive landscape of premium single-player experiences. The table below demonstrates how it stacks against similar-priced action-adventure titles across key consumer decision factors.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Story and World

Set five years after Fallen Order, Cal Kestis is now a powerful Jedi Knight hunted relentlessly by the Empire. The narrative explores themes of survival, sacrifice, and how far one would go to protect loved ones. Planets range from Coruscant’s oppressive Imperial architecture to the western frontier planet Koboh, each with distinct visual identity and environmental storytelling. The supporting cast evolved significantly; expect character deaths, unexpected alliances, and plot twists that recontextualize earlier events. Voice acting delivers genuine emotional weight, particularly during climactic story moments. The game balances philosophical Jedi dialogue with personal stakes that resonate beyond franchise lore.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Multiplayer and Online

This is a strictly single-player experience with no online features, asynchronous multiplayer, or competitive elements. The entire game is designed around Cal Kestis’ personal journey against the Empire with no interruptions from online systems.

• Campaign Co-op – Not available; single-player only throughout all story content
• Competitive Modes – None; Respawn focused entirely on cinematic single-player experience
• Asynchronous Features – None; no leaderboards, photo mode sharing, or community challenges
• Cross-Save – Supported on PlayStation/Xbox ecosystem; Steam saves not compatible with console versions

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor DLC and Expansions

Post-launch content remains cosmetic-only, following Respawn’s approach with Fallen Order. No narrative expansions or campaign additions are planned; the development team focused resources on post-launch stability and performance optimization instead.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi Pack – Hermit outfit, Combustion Blaster, Hermit Lightsaber; pre-order bonus now available for purchase
• Galactic Hero Pack – Scoundrel outfit, Rugged BD-1, DL-44 Blaster; deluxe edition exclusive inspired by Han Solo
• New Hero Pack – Rebel outfit, BD Astro droid skin, Rebel lightsaber; deluxe edition bonus with Luke Skywalker inspiration
• Free Updates – Performance patches, bug fixes, and balance adjustments continue; no paid cosmetics beyond launch packs

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Community and Support

Respawn maintains active engagement with the player community, though the single-player nature limits ongoing content discussions. Official channels and community hubs remain vibrant with speedrun attempts, challenge runs, and creative photo mode galleries.

• Official Forums – EA’s Star Wars Jedi community boards host developer responses to major bugs and performance reports
• Discord/Reddit – r/StarWarsJediSurvivor exceeds 100,000 members; active daily discussions of story theories, challenge strategies, and speedrun records
• Mod Support – PC version does not support Steam Workshop mods; Respawn has not released official mod tools
• Updates – Regular patches deploy every 4-6 weeks addressing performance issues and rare game-breaking bugs; development roadmap is informal but transparent