There Has Never Been a Better Time To Get Into Star Wars
In 2026, Star Wars video games are emerging as an unexpectedly effective gateway for audiences new to the franchise. A Polygon writer who grew up uninterested in Star Wars—despite appreciating the cultural impact of The Phantom Menace at the time—has become genuinely engaged with the universe through gaming for the first time. The author, who identifies as both a cinephile and science fiction enthusiast, had little interest in exploring the films beyond that initial childhood moment, viewing Star Wars merely as an impressive but somewhat impenetrable universe.
That changed dramatically with the recent release of two standout titles: Star Wars Zero Company and Star Wars: Galactic Racer, both of which appear on the author’s 2026 Game of the Year shortlist. According to the writer, these games succeed not only through their ironclad gameplay systems and mechanics but also by effectively introducing the broader Star Wars universe and lore to someone who had previously found the franchise inaccessible. The article suggests that video games may be proving more effective than films in making Star Wars engaging and comprehensible to audiences who previously found little reason to explore the broader saga or expanded universe.