Star Wars: TIE Fighter

If Star Wars: X-Wing let the player fight for the Rebellion, its successor turned the perspective on its head: in Star Wars: TIE Fighter from 1994 you sit in the cockpit on the side of the Empire and serve the Empire itself as well as the mysterious Lord Vader. This shift in point of view proved to be an ingenious move and made the title one of the most acclaimed space simulators ever.

The studio Totally Games under LucasArts built on the proven foundations of X-Wing and refined everything. The player again manages power between the ship's systems, maneuvers in 3D space and fulfills varied missions, only now with better graphics, a more elaborate story and greater variety of craft, from fragile TIE Fighters to armored bombers. The feel of the game was even smoother and more dramatic.

What truly elevated TIE Fighter was the story seen through the eyes of the Empire. Instead of black-and-white villainy, the game offered a look at order, loyalty and intrigue within the Empire, complemented by a mysterious thread of higher orders. This narrative ambition, together with polished gameplay, earned the game a reputation as the pinnacle of the genre.

In development terms TIE Fighter confirmed that LucasArts mastered space simulators like few others. The game is regularly ranked among the best space sims and the best games from the Star Wars world ever, and its name still commands respect among veterans. It was released primarily for PC, where it reaped its fame.

The chance to experience the Star Wars universe from the other side of the barricade, and moreover in a technically and gameplay-wise refined package, makes TIE Fighter a timeless classic that is never forgotten.

Why play: A space simulator considered the pinnacle of the genre, plus with the enticing view of the Star Wars world from the Empire's perspective.