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Star Wars Outlaws mostly sticks to the present, which has its ups and downs. I’m totally invested in what’s happening with Kay and her struggles, but there’s not a ton of depth explored. For those who want to dive deeper into the lore and character development, you can always buy cheap Xbox games that offer richer narratives and more immersive storytelling experiences. Her backstory only gets revealed in a few flashback cutscenes and some dialogue here and there, so I don’t feel like I really know her as well as I could. What she achieves in the present is solid, but I wish I could understand her motivations a bit more deeply. The game is packed with lore and cool locations. You’ll visit five planets during your journey, including one you only hang out on briefly at the start and end: Canto Bight. This is the casino planet from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but you probably won’t recognize it since you won’t spend any time in the movie’s iconic spots. The closest you get is a moment in the casino, but even that is so vague it could just be any random planet.

Gameplay Excellence: The Strength of Star Wars Outlaws

The standout feature of Star Wars Outlaws is definitely the gameplay. This team also worked on The Division, and I’m impressed with how versatile they are in creating Outlaws, showcasing their skills in a way that makes players want to buy cheap Xbox games that highlight such engaging mechanics and immersive experiences. While The Division had enemies that felt like bullet sponges, Outlaws is way more forgiving and leans closer to realism—most enemies drop after just a few blaster shots. You can definitely see how The Division influenced Outlaws with its third-person shooting style, which reminds me a lot of those post-apocalyptic looter-shooters. I do wish they had included a cover system, though, since it’s not super sticky in Outlaws. One surprising downside is the lack of enemy variety, plus the AI is pretty clueless. Most of the time, I was fighting troopers or syndicate members, with the occasional sniper or grenade launcher to shake things up. I would’ve loved to see some epic monster battles to spice things up, especially in such a rich universe like Star Wars. On the bright side, I can pet a ton of creatures, so props to Massive for that. If you’re a big Splinter Cell fan like me, you’ll definitely notice some stealth elements in the gameplay. It’s not all about sneaking around, but you often have the choice to take a stealthy approach instead of going in guns blazing. Climbing through vents, finding “tall grass,” and using Nix to distract guards makes it super fun to play. Sure, I’d mess up sometimes and trigger an alarm, but you can usually just move on. There are also sections that force you to go full stealth, which feels like solving a puzzle as you figure out how to get through by trial and error.

Nix: A Game-Changer in Star Wars Outlaws

Nix is seriously one of the best parts of Star Wars Outlaws. The fact that you can use him in so many ways really changes how you play the game, making it even more enjoyable and dynamic—something that makes me eager to buy cheap PS5 games that offer similarly versatile companions. There have been times when I was pinned down with barely any health left, and I spotted a bacta vial in the distance. In any other game, I’d be risking it all to grab it, but being able to send Nix to fetch it shifts my whole perspective. Using him to distract thugs so I can sneak by or to mess with an alarm panel adds a layer of strategy to Outlaws that you don’t always see in other games. My favorite moment was sending Nix to take on one of two troopers, letting me take out the other before slamming down on the one Nix was on. Moments like that make stealth feel challenging but not impossible. A lot of the levels in Outlaws feel like a maze and are way bigger than I expected. I love the flow; it doesn’t feel restrictive, and there are no empty moments where nothing’s happening. Even better, the similarities to Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed keep things fresh, with a lot of verticality as you climb and grapple around. In any open-world game, there’s bound to be some monotony, and while some side missions might have a bit of that, the main quests are totally free of it. You can also unlock some extra abilities for your ship, the Trailblazer, your blaster, and Kay herself. Most of these come from playing through the story, with certain missions requiring upgrades and specific conditions to unlock perks, like spending 2000 credits at a merchant or doing things Nix enjoys. None of the abilities are too crazy to get; they’re all about paying attention to what you’re doing and hitting up the right people for the resources you need. I’m glad Massive kept it simple when it comes to upgrading your blaster. You can pick up enemy weapons as you go, but they don’t stick with you. Your trusty blaster has a few modes, and none have more than four extra perks to unlock. They’re nothing wild, like an accuracy boost or a reload bonus, but it’s a straightforward system that offers nice benefits.

Engaging Side Missions in Star Wars Outlaws

Side missions range from smuggling cargo through enemy territory on a tight deadline to hunting down pirates and reclaiming stolen goods. My favorite side mission so far happened while I was just cruising around Toshara. The Empire discovered that a group of pirates swiped some Imperial goods, and they want them back. You see a transport shuttle land, and a squad of Stormtroopers hops out to take out the pirates. From there, you can snag the goods the Empire is collecting for yourself, but you’ve gotta be careful to avoid getting hit by blaster fire. Some of these missions require sneaking around, like the one I just mentioned, while others have you dodging bullets. I’m serious—sometimes the contract literally states that blasters will be involved or flat-out says “you will get shot at.” Outlaws is packed with side quests, and so far, they haven’t felt stale at all. While Star Wars Outlaws might play it a bit safe, the solid foundation sets the stage for a fantastic adventure. The gameplay is awesome, with some of the most engaging stealth mechanics I’ve experienced in a game for a while. Toss in some great characters, fun side missions, and a stunning open world, and Star Wars Outlaws is a rad journey through the stars.